Kim Kardashian helps Afghan women's soccer team flee to safety
London, UK – The Afghanistan women's youth development soccer team safely escaped Afghanistan with the help of Kim Kardashian and Leeds United.
On Thursday, players from the Afghanistan women's youth development soccer team arrived at the London Stansted Airport, along with their family members, after fleeing the country amid ongoing turmoil with the Taliban after the group reclaimed power.
According to ESPN, part of the reason they were able to evacuate was due to none of than Kardashian herself, who paid for the team's flight to the London, UK area.
The plane, chartered by the 41-year-old business owner and reality television star, carried more than 30 players and their families from Afghanistan to the UK, where they are set to quarantine for 10 days before they can explore their new homes.
"A big shout out to @khalida_Popal for leading this effort to save these girls and to everyone else involved in this incredible mission!," Kardashian tweeted on Thursday.
Of course, it wasn't Kardashian alone who evacuated the Afghan women's team. Andrea Radrizzani, the majority owner of Leeds United football club, also played a part.
In a statement shared on Twitter, Radrizzani said, "We are [honored] to have played our apart and are grateful that the UK government has enabled their resettlement in the UK."
Former captain of Afghanistan's women's national soccer team Khalida Popal, who led the team's evacuation efforts, was relieved that the team was able to safely escape.
In a tweet full of gratitude, Popal wrote, "Thank you, @KimKardashian, for hearing our voices. My girls woke up today away from fear of losing their lives. One of the girls said, 'After[a] few months of nightmares, last night I slept out of fear of losing my life.'"
Since being overtaken by the Taliban in August, many have fled Afghanistan to start new lives in a safe place outside the country's borders.
Cover photo: Screenshot/Instagram/kimkardashian