Afghans who fled their home hold on to items dear to them

Those who left Afghanistan think constantly about those they left behind in the chaotic withdrawal from the country as the Taliban reclaimed power. Here, an Afghan man rides a bike with his children. Photos: Oliver Weiken/dpa

Last year, two decades after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, they were finally leaving. The Taliban was mounting its comeback, gobbling up territory across the country and closing in on the capital.

Its fighters arrived in Kabul on Aug 15, setting off a chaotic exodus by artists, journalists, rights activists – anyone who embraced Western ideals or whom the new rulers might see as a threat. More than 120,000 people fled in a series of airlifts over the next two weeks.