Afghan relief worker with Minnesota ties hiding from Taliban, trying to leave country

The attacks at the Kabul airport Thursday added a new level of concern to those trying to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover.

A humanitarian worker with ties to a nonprofit in Minnesota and family in the state told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on the phone that he’s in hiding in Afghanistan.

"I have left my home, my wife, my kids…all alone because of these threats," said the Afghan man, whose identity he asked us to not share. "I have to accept this bad situation for myself and family as well."

The threats he’s talking about are from the Taliban, which is why he continues to move around, staying with various people.

"They are searching for the people who have worked or have been working with the U.S. government or on behalf of the U.S. government," the relief worker said.

Man hiding from Taliban in Afghanistan shares his story as his family in Minnesota hopes for the best

Earlier this month, the humanitarian worker had been helping fellow Afghans with agricultural projects.

"I have my relatives in Minnesota," the relief worker said. "I hope to move to there and they could help me."

But in order to get through at the Kabul airport, the man said he needs a special visa approved before trying to brave the streets under Taliban patrol.

Before the call ended with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, he was asked what message he had for the U.S. government.

The worker wants the U.S. to stay in the country a few months more to make sure others like him can leave.

"So they can save our lives, so they can save our family and they can save all the people who have been worked with them," the worker said.