Afghanistan boy Noman Mujtaba makes it to Florida to be with adopted family after Kabul falls to the Taliban

Noman is like some other 10-year-old boy.

He loves pizza, rooster nuggets and ice cream – chocolate is his favorite flavour.

Bahaudin Mujtaba says the journey to convey Noman residence began 5 years in the past.

He and his spouse, Lisa Marie, seemed into adoption as soon as they realised they may not have youngsters biologically.

The trail to undertake from Afghanistan was stuffed with paperwork and paperwork, however the Mujtabas didn’t surrender.

They labored with two adoption companies, and Mr Mujtaba made a number of journeys to Afghanistan to go to Noman.

Simply when it seemed like every little thing was prepared for Noman to come back to the US the Taliban took over Kabul.

“We had been simply ready for the US Embassy to name us for the ultimate interview to difficulty a visa for my son to have the ability to journey to the US,” Mr Mujtaba stated.

“So whereas we’re ready, as you possibly can see that the Taliban clearly took over the federal government so the chaos began occurring.”

However one other US citizen was attempting to get again to the US with just a little boy he had adopted and agreed to convey Noman again with them.

So, with two units of garments and a snack in a small backpack, Noman began his lengthy journey to Florida.

Mr Mujtaba says on the primary day when Noman and the opposite household tried to get to Kabul’s airport they stored getting turned again by Taliban fighters.

However on the second day after attempting for about six hours they’d higher luck.

“The Taliban had been permitting these with American passport to undergo together with a member of the family, and that is how my son was capable of get by way of the Taliban safety gates and make it to the American facet,” Mr Mujtaba stated.

“So then they checked out my son’s paperwork and so they allowed him to enter the airport.”

Noman and the opposite household then waited three days earlier than they had been capable of get a flight as there have been hundreds of individuals there, based on Mr Mujtaba.

The flight too was packed, and since everybody was sitting on the ground, when the aircraft took off Noman stated he fell backwards on to the individual behind him.

Then after two stops — one in Qatar, then in Germany, the place he needed to wait a number of days at every place — he lastly arrived in Washington, DC, the place his father was ready to fulfill him.

Noman stated the expertise was extraordinarily anxious.

He described, together with his father translating, the chaos outdoors the airport.

He stated Taliban fighters had been firing pictures into the air and folks had been getting injured throughout the stampede as the gang tried to disperse.

“There have been hundreds of individuals shoving and pushing after which Taliban forces had been firing bullets into the air and typically, sadly, folks had been being hit,” Mr Mujtaba stated.

“And there was one gentleman who received shot.

“In order that was robust for a 10-year-old boy to be amongst clearly hundreds of others, kind of like a wave coming in pushing everyone backwards and forwards.”

“That was terrifying,” Bahaudin added.

Noman Mujtaba is lastly residence in Florida

On his flight from Washington to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Noman was excited he was lastly going to fulfill his mom and requested Mr Mujtaba how lengthy the primary hug would final.

“Once we did arrive on the airport, she was ready there with a present for him, and the hug was a fairly good hug, however lower than a minute, as a result of they had been different kin and buddies there as effectively,” Mr Mujtaba stated.

‘Daily has been higher’

Now, Noman is having fun with going to high school, and he is additionally a part of an English as a Second Language program.

“The primary day when he went it was sort of troublesome for him to let go of my fingers, to sit down within the class, however we inspired him to go and advised him all will probably be okay,” Mr Mujtaba stated.

“So, then he did go sit down together with his classmates within the class, sort of being anxious.”

However when Bahaudin went to choose him up from college Noman had already received over his preliminary shyness.

“He stated it was superb… That the nervousness was eliminated and he was trying ahead to the following day,” Mr Mujtaba stated.

“So, on daily basis has been higher than the day before today.

Mr Mujtaba stated he has been attempting to maintain Noman lively by taking him to the park and preserving him busy with chess, playing cards, puzzles and books.

Noman is completely satisfied at residence now, however he is additionally anxious in regards to the folks he left behind in Afghanistan.

“He was very upset that his buddies and siblings and kin had been nonetheless there, as a result of he is aware of that it was very difficult, very chaotic as the federal government was being transitioned and the Taliban had been taking up,” Mr Mujtaba stated.

“It was tough days in Kabul, so he remembers that and he feels dangerous for the truth that he is right here however his buddies are in Afghanistan and maybe in very dire circumstances.”

Mr Mujtaba stated he is aware of of many different attempting to undertake, and the method must be made sooner so they do not have to attend 5 years like he did.

However, he stated, he’s grateful to the State Division, to the US troops and everyone else who helped to convey Noman residence.