Afghanistan: Londonderry-based Afghan fears for family

Mr Kharotai, who has been living in Northern Ireland for the past three years, says he fears for his family's safety in Kabul

An Afghan man living in Londonderry has said he fears "time is running out" for his mother and three sisters trapped in his home country.

Muhammad Edrees Kharotai has had no contact with his family in Afghanistan for six days.

He said if they are not evacuated before the 31 August deadline he does not know "whether they will survive or not".

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has called on the UK government to intervene.

Mr Eastwood said he has made both the home secretary and foreign secretary directly aware of the plight of Mr Kharotai's family.

Mr Kharotai, who left Afghanistan in 2011 after his government official father was murdered by the Taliban, told BBC Radio Foyle he is desperate to get his family to Northern Ireland.

He believes "time is running out".

Afghans continue to try and reach the airport in Kabul

"It is not a normal feeling to think if your loved ones are ok or not, that they might be killed or disappeared," he said.

"I absolutely do not believe anything from the Taliban.

"What they did to women and children twenty years ago they will do again."

When he last spoke to them, his mother and three sisters had fled their home and were staying in a tent on the streets of the capital.

• Kabul evacuations hit by 'severe' threat of attack

Mr Eastwood said direct intervention from the UK government is needed.

He said the Home Office, Foreign Office and prime minister "must step up".

"We need direct intervention from ministers now, and the system reformed in the long-term," said the SDLP leader said.

He added: "The neglectful response from the government shows a lack of understanding of the immense pressure people are under and the risks they face."

The Home Office have said that they do not comment on individual cases.