The baby seen being lifted over a barbed wire fence in Afghanistan in a viral video clip is now living safely with her family in Phoenix, Arizona, it has been confirmed.
The video has become a symbol of the desperation and chaos in Afghanistan, as many people attempted to flee the country after the Taliban seized power on 16 August.
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Posted by human rights activist Omar Haidiri, the footage shows a US Marine reaching down to grab the baby, lifting her over a barbed wire fence to safety.
As outlined by KOLD News 13, for days no one knew what had happened to the child or the parents.
However, as the days went on, details emerged to reveal that the family, whose full names have not been published for security reasons, are safe and living in the US.
Up until the Taliban took control of the country, the baby's father, Hameed, had been working as a linguist and cultural advisor for military officials in Kabul, giving five years of service as an 'Afghan ally'.
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Throughout August, he had been living at Kabul's airport to help US Marines with evacuations, and since this was a secure area, he didn't even get the chance to meet his newborn child, Liya.
As Taliban fighters swept Afghanistan, Hameed's wife, Sadia, decided the only way to stay safe was to flee with their child.
"We got intel that people were getting killed, or going missing. By my affiliation [with the military], I knew my home would be next. It wasn't a matter of 'if,' but 'when,'" said Hameed.
But when they showed up, Sadia said their IDs, gold, cash and passports were all taken by the Taliban before they joined the chaotic rush to get through the airport gate.
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While watching from the other side of the fence, powerless to intervene, Hameed said: "I knew she'd never make it through. She'd be crushed to death, God forbid, or severely injured."
In a bid to save Liya, he asked a Marine for help, stating: "He told me the only thing he could do was lift her over the barbed wire, but he said she'd be hurt.
"I told him I'll take the chance. I'd rather her get hurt than die."
And so the Marine agreed, pulling Liya over the fence to safety and into her father's arms for the first time.
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However, the battle wasn't over - Hameed had to hand his baby over to a US troop before continuing to help with evacuations. And he still had to find Sadia, who had collapsed from exhaustion.
Thankfully, his wife eventually made it through and the three were reunited before securing a spot on a plane out of Kabul.
For Hameed, the escape was bittersweet: "What was heartbreaking is, I was inside and had somebody to pull my daughter over the wire.
"There were thousands of others who didn't have that opportunity."
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When they reached America, they had no idea of the media attention the video of little Liya received.
"When she's older, I'll tell her she's a fighter. She made it through the worst of times at the beginning of her life," added Hameed.
Although they're safe and living with friends in Phoenix, with no forms of ID and the need for medical care, there's still a long journey ahead.
If you'd like to help, follow this link and donate to their GoFundMe page.
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