A VETERANS group is appealing for donations to help embassy staff and interpreters leaving Afghanistan.

Darlington Veterans Community, which was set up last year to support ex-armed forces personnel in the town, is organising the donation drive as a way of showing support for those forced to leave the country at short notice.

Iraq veteran Dan Smith, who helps runs the group, said “These people have come over here with short notice and  they’re not going to have a lot of extra baggage.

“These things will be going to embassy staff and interpreters who have been helping us for the last 20 years. We feel like we have a duty of care to give them something.

“These Afghan staff put their lives on the line for us, many times. The least we can do is offer a little bit of support for those who have left and lost everything.”

He is asking for toiletries, sanitary and hygiene products, toilet paper and things like shower gels and tooth paste to help people when they first arrive.

Any donations can be dropped off at The Old English Gentleman, in Bondgate, which supports the group.

Mr Smith added: “I’m pretty angry about it all. I lost friends there and the Taliban have just walked back in with no resistance.

“That’s nothing to do with the soldiers and the personnel who have served there. They have done their jobs and its out of their hands.

“I feel like we made a difference when we were there.”

Since launching last November, the group has more than 400 members from the DL area. As a result of lockdowns and coronavirus restrictions, they are still to hold their first in-person social event – which they plan to have at The Old English Gentleman.

But they have been offering each other virtual support, and before Christmas joined up to drop off parcels for people who were isolated.

Any veterans interested in getting involved can join the group’s Facebook group.

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