Written evidence submitted by Raphael Marshall (AFG0052)
From: [FCDO official serving as crisis “Silver” – name redacted]
Sent: 25 August 2021 17:42
To: [FCDO official in Foreign Secretary’s private office – name redacted]
Cc: [FCDO official – name redacted]; [FCDO official – name redacted]; [FCDO official – name redacted]; [FCDO official – name redacted]; Nigel Casey (Sensitive) [FCDO official serving as crisis “Gold” – email address redacted]; [FCDO official – name redacted]; [FCDO official – name redacted]; [FCDO official – name redacted]; [FCDO official – name redacted]; [FCDO official – name redacted]; Nigel Casey (Sensitive) [FCDO official serving as crisis “Gold” – email address redacted]; DL ARAP [email address redacted]; SOSFA Action (Sensitive) [email address redacted]; Special Advisers Office (Sensitive) [email address redacted]; [FCDO official – name redacted]; Crisis Mailbox (Sensitive) [email address redacted]
Subject: Evacuation - LOTR. URGENT for FS views
Private Secretary
I think I should now seek FS clearance of new cases for LOTR. Needless to say, they are urgent. [FCDO official – name redacted] will update shortly on ARAP.
Case 1: [name redacted]
Please see facts below. I recommend that we should issue Calls Forward (and LOTR will result) to the [details redacted], because of the threat to [details redacted].
The [details redacted] should be considered “principals” and there should be separate Calls Forward issued to them, for them and their dependents. The [details redacted] are not on our system already, so not within the individuals underpinning Ministers’ agreement to the cohorts. However they are [details redacted] and the threat to them appears acute.
I have no quota from PJHQ for new decisions. However the Baron Hotel is still processing at volume. These individuals are on their way there with [name redacted], so should not slow flow. We are not yet down to very last seats on last flights.
The decision is formally (or in strict logic) outside the cohorts Ministers have agreed, since we are only now considering [details redacted] as individuals rather than dependents. I recommend [details redacted] should be called forward and granted LOTR nonetheless.
I understand Home Office are content (and we’ll check). The recommendation initiates from MOD.
Case 2: [animal charity – name redacted]
In light of the PM’s decision earlier today to evacuate the staff of the Nowzad animal charity, the [animal charity – name redacted] (another animal rights NGO) is asking for agreement to the entry of [details redacted] staff, all Afghan nationals.
The [animal charity – name redacted] is not among the charities underpinning the cohort for NGOs in the “Second Submission”. However some staff of other NGOs were included under the category “Extremely Vulnerable Individuals”, which was less well defined (deliberately, to allow us to prioritise vulnerability).
Had the [animal charity – name redacted] been put forward by my team on Monday night, I would not have considered vets working for an animal charity “extremely vulnerable”. We have if anything allowed in too many EVIs relative to the 44 cases / 220 people included in the 21 August submission, so the EVI cohort is also full.
Equally, I shall not pretend to absolute bureaucratic perfection in a scheme first conceived a week ago, in crisis conditions.
The [animal charity – name redacted] contributes to HMG objectives in a broad sense. The [details redacted] are the most vulnerable in the [animal charity – name redacted] group.
Having regard to the Prime Minister’s Nowzad decision, the Foreign Secretary might consider the [details redacted] vets and their dependents should be included. They might be able to get to the airport with their dependents in time.
[FCDO official serving as crisis “Silver”– name redacted]
Crisis Silver / Afghan Nationals
From: [FCDO official – name redacted]
Sent: 25 August 2021 13:52
To: [FCDO official serving as crisis “Silver”– name redacted]
Subject: Submission on [name redacted]
1) [Name redacted] has been called forward for the ARAP scheme. He is now on his way to the airport, and is in touch with Lord Ahmad. He refuses to leave Afghanistan unless [details redacted] are also evacuated. This is on the grounds that if he has left the country they are likely to be murdered due to their connection with him.
2) [Details redacted] say they submitted requests for LOTR. We do not know when or on what grounds, beyond that we understand both principals are [details redacted]. (Comment: This will be true now of many thousands of requests: we simply have not had capacity to consider all e-mails coming in.) The UK MOD ([details redacted]) tells us they believe the [details redacted] too will be murdered if the [details redacted] has left (e-mail chain available – [FCDO official – name redacted]: Please ensure record preservation.)
3) I recommend that we do agree the [details redacted] (and their dependents) for evacuation.
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From: [FCDO official in private office of Lord (Zac) Goldsmith – name redacted]
Sent: 25 August 2021 12:20
To: [FCDO official serving as Special Cases team “Bronze” – name redacted]
Cc: [FCDO official serving as Special Cases team “Bronze” – name redacted]
Subject: [animal charity – name redacted] - Animal Charity for Evacuation from Kabul
Hi [name redacted],
We spoke – thank you for your time.
[animal charity – name redacted] are a [details redacted] animal charity operating in Kabul and seeking to evacuation their [details redacted] members of staff (no animals). Equivalent charity Nowzad, run by an ex-Royal Marine, has received a lot of publicity and the PM has just authorised their staff and animals to be evacuated, [animal charity – name redacted] are hoping to be treated in the same capacity (granted LOTR).
The [animal charity – name redacted] staff can all be guaranteed employment in the UK by [details redacted].
The head of the charity can also guarantee their safe passage to the airport – just let me know if you need me to do anything to facilitate this (as I’m in contact with [details redacted] directly).
Staff details are below – the priority is the [details redacted] and the full list in the screenshot below.
Thank you,
[FCDO official in private office of Lord (Zac) Goldsmith – name redacted]
[Details of individuals redacted]
January 2022