Over 200 Afghan allies arrived at Fort Lee, in Virginia, on the first of many expected flights bringing thousands of people who assisted the U.S. military to America, Axios reported Friday.
President Joe Biden promised to help Afghan interpreters and other people who aided U.S. forces during the war, according to Axios. Over 700 people and their family members are expected to come to the U.S. on special immigrant visas as American forces withdraw from Afghanistan.
“This flight represents a fulfillment of the U.S. commitment and honors these Afghans’ brave service in helping support our mission in Afghanistan, in turn, helping to keep our country safe,” Senior Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Russ Travers said Thursday, Axios reported.
Welcome News: the 1st flight evacuating our allies has brought >200 Afghans to safety in the U.S.
“The people on this flight are a tiny fraction of the 18k applicants & their families who are waiting on the president to fulfill our promise.” –@itsapurdyhttps://t.co/11YosecVm8
— Human Rights First (@humanrights1st) July 30, 2021
A majority of U.S. forces have already withdrawn from the country and some intelligence community members say the Afghan government could fall to the Taliban next year, according to Axios.
“Although U.S. troops are leaving, we will continue to support Afghanistan through security assistance to Afghan forces, as well as humanitarian and development aid to the Afghan people to help them sustain their achievements of the past 20 years,” Biden said in a statement Friday.
The Biden administration will support a peaceful transition in the country and called for an end to the violence so negotiations can resume, according to the White House. (RELATED: US Hammers Taliban With Airstrikes To Help Allies In Afghanistan As Troops Withdraw)
Thousands of civilians are fleeing their homes as Taliban insurgents take over Afghan districts, the Associated Press reported July 13. More than 5,600 families were displaced, mainly from northern districts of the country where U.S. forces were the most concentrated before the withdrawal.
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