Irish woman in Kabul describes “chaos” and “fear” in Afghanistan

Aoife's been living and working in Kabul for the past two years.

A teacher from Co. Meath is among several Irish people in Afghanistan amid the Taliban's takeover of the country. Aoife MacManus has been working in Kabul for the past two years and has said that there is a "sense of panic and fear all over the city." Ms MacManus said that the past 24 hours in the Afghan capital have been "chaotic". As she left her work compound with her colleagues on Sunday, they became very upset. "We were all crying," she said. "Everybody was crying because of the expectations of what things are going to be like." She added: "All that work that we've put into education, that it might be all for nothing." Aoife said that she hopes to be able to leave the country once the airport has become more settled. "From what I've heard, it will take at least two days for the airport to be put back in order," she said. Yesterday, Simon Coveney said that the Department of Foreign Affairs is working to get 15 Irish citizens safely out of Afghanistan. The Minister said that they had planned to evacuate them on commercial flights, however these have since been cancelled. Shocking footage emerged yesterday of crowded scenes at Kabul airport, with people clinging onto airplanes in order to escape the country. The EU, the UK and the US are now working on alternative routes to get foreigners out of Afghanistan. Aoife said that she woke yesterday to find that there were Taliban checkpoints set up in the city. "It's quite intimidating, you can spot them a mile off," she said. She added that while she's dressed conservatively during her time in the country, she's increased measures recently. She said: "Today, my scarf is tighter." She told the PA News Agency that she's in contact with her family, who are growing increasingly worried about her. "They've been worried for the past couple of weeks," she said. "I have people lighting candles and saying Mass and all kinds of things. What can I say? I'm not in a normal situation."