Sean VanDiver, President of the Afghan Evac Foundation, has strongly criticized U.S. officials, stating that approximately 260,000 Afghans are facing an uncertain future due to the suspension of relocation, visa, and resettlement programs.
In an open letter published on Friday (July 3), VanDiver said that, as a result of recent decisions by the U.S. government, the cases of thousands of Afghans who were part of the U.S. evacuation process and are still awaiting review have been put on hold.
According to Afghan Evac, the U.S. government has shut down the Permanent Welcome Admission program, the Temporary Protected Status program for Afghans, and the coordination office for migrant relocation, while also completely freezing the processing of special visa and immigration cases.
VanDiver also stated that the Al Udeid military camp in Qatar is in the process of being closed, even though for the past five years more than a thousand Afghans have been living there while awaiting transfer to the United States, without a clear or permanent solution being provided.
In his letter, he praised the efforts of Afghan Evac members and volunteers, emphasizing that despite recent obstacles from the U.S. government, the organization remains committed to supporting Afghan allies and will continue its cooperation with them.
The letter concludes that the Afghan Evac coalition comprises more than 250 organizations, including refugee support groups, retired U.S. military personnel, religious organizations, and lawyers, all working to protect Afghan rights and ensure their safe relocation. VanDiver urged members to intensify their efforts to advance cases and continue providing assistance.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
