US offers refuge to more Afghans who aided Americans in new programme
- The ‘Priority Two’ refugee programme covers Afghans who worked for US-funded projects and for US-based non-government bodies and media outlets
- Joe Biden has faced pressure to help Afghans at risk of Taliban retaliation because of their association with the US during the 20-year war
Thousands more Afghans who may be targets of Taliban violence due to their US affiliations will have the opportunity to resettle as refugees in the United States under a new programme announced by the State Department on Monday.
Reuters first reported earlier on Monday the plans to set up the “Priority Two” refugee programme, covering Afghans who worked for US-funded projects and for US-based non-government bodies and media outlets.
“In light of increased levels of Taliban violence, the US government is working to provide certain Afghans, including those who worked with the United States, the opportunity for refugee resettlement to the United States,” the State Department said in the announcement.
The programme, which the announcement said could help “many thousands” of Afghans, comes as fighting surges in Afghanistan ahead of the formal completion of the US troop withdrawal at the end of this month, with the Taliban pushing to capture key provincial capitals.
