Spanish airfield used as EU hub for arriving Afghan refugees

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"Espana! Espana! Vamos!"

These were cries heard at Afghanistan's Kabul airport as the latest military plane carrying evacuees left for Spain. Thousands of people have been trying to flee the country after the Taliban swept back to power in Afghanistan earlier this month.

Spain has been evacuating its nationals and local contractors from the country since last week. Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the country would try to rescue as many as possible, including those with connections to other European Union nations.

"Right up until the last moment, we will try to take in as many people as we can – especially those in danger," he said. "We will give our all and coordinate with the EU and the rest of our partners, like the U.S.."

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Following conversations between U.S. President Joe Biden and the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez over the weekend, Spain offered the use of its Torrejon de Ardoz airbase just outside of Madrid to receive flights from Afghanistan.

The base is one of three being used in Spain to aid attempts to evacuate as many as possible while U.S. forces are still in control of Kabul airport.

The clock is ticking, though, as the Taliban have demanded all foreign troops leave by August 31.

Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska speaks with Afghan citizens at Torrejon Air Base, outside Madrid, Spain. /Javier Barbancho/Reuters

So far nearly 1,500 people have been evacuated to Spain thanks to the military personnel based at Torrejón being assisted by NGOs like the Spanish Commission to Help Refugees.

The charity's state so-ordinator, Aliva Diez Martinez told CGTN Europe that looking after the evacuees' mental health was also a big priority.

"The refugees arriving here at Torrejon will be incorporated into the National Refugee Welcome System. That will happen within 12 to 48 hours," she said. "From there, we will begin to work to get them into the education and health care systems.

"We will also offer them legal assistance and access to psychologists.We also provide support by way of social workers to help those families in need.Our plan is to work with them until they can become totally independent," she added.

Torrejon will continue to act as a temporary holding site from where the evacuees can wait to enter Spain and other European countries with some also going onto the U.S.. Their future, like that of their country, remains uncertain.