FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2021
AfghanEvac Coalition Meets with Secretary Blinken on Ongoing Evacuation Efforts from Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - Today the members of the #AfghanEvac coalition met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss ongoing government and private evacuation efforts out of Afghanistan for American citizens, Afghan allies, and at-risk people.
The #AfghanEvac coalition urges all stakeholders, including the whole of US government, and our allies around the world, to commit to securing end-to-end solutions for all those seeking safe passage from Afghanistan.
The meeting with Secretary Blinken was collaborative, collegial, and productive. The AfghanEvac Coalition welcomed Secretary Blinken’s words acknowledging the efforts of private citizens and veterans in the evacuation efforts from Afghanistan since mid-August.
MOVING FORWARD: While acknowledging there is much work to do, after our meeting today, we believe the State Department is fully engaged and up to the task.
We expect the State Department to continue to meet and work with us toward long-term solutions for both American citizens and Afghan allies. Long-term solutions should include plans for permanent resettlement and ensure we don’t leave vulnerable populations stranded and stateless. War time allies and other Afghans have already faced too much uncertainty and turmoil.
Too many Afghans have found themselves stateless and vulnerable in third countries after fleeing the country. We urge all those seeking to assist Afghans seeking evacuation to pursue safe and legal pathways that include options for permanent resettlement in the United States or third countries. It is imperative that organizations assisting with evacuation efforts not act in a manner that further endangers the lives of vulnerable Afghans and which could negatively impact US diplomatic relationships with other countries as well.
The coalition welcomes opportunities for further collaboration across the US government toward a whole of government approach that incorporates equities from the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, The White House, members of Congress and additional stakeholders.
Moving forward, the coalition will work with the Department of State and the Office of Secretary of State directly to build upon the work already underway, and expand capacity to assist the thousands of Afghans impacted by recent events.
WHO ARE WE? The members of #AfghanEvac are veterans, frontline civilians, social workers, attorneys, advocates, and everyday Americans who came together in August after the fall of Kabul.
The member organizations of the AfghanEvac coalition continue to assist all those seeking safe passage from Afghanistan, including American citizens, their immediate family members, lawful permanent residents of the United States, war-time allies, and at-risk populations. The fate of the Hazara is of particular concern to the coalition, as well as those at risk because of their ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.
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