Afghanistan Peace Campaign
More than 1,000 Afghans evacuated to Qatar in 2021 remain stranded as Washington explores third-country options for their long-term resettlement.
More than 1,000 Afghans evacuated to Qatar following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 remain stranded at Camp As Sayliyah, with their prospects for resettlement in the United States increasingly uncertain. The group includes Afghans who fled the country during the final days of the U.S. military withdrawal and some who had supported American forces. Many have spent years waiting for decisions on their future, according to NPR.
The United States is now negotiating with other countries over possible resettlement options for the Afghans, NPR reported. The U.S. State Department said relocating them to a third country could provide a safe alternative outside Afghanistan, while also addressing Washington’s security concerns.
Earlier Reuters reporting said the United States had discussed resettling about 1,100 Afghans from Qatar in the Democratic Republic of Congo, although officials did not confirm at the time that an agreement had been reached.
The uncertainty has left many of the evacuees facing an unclear future after years of waiting. The U.S. State Department has said the Afghans currently at the camp do not have a viable pathway to the United States and that it is exploring voluntary third-country resettlement options.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has previously emerged as a possible destination. Reuters reported in April that Washington was in talks with Kinshasa over the possible relocation of the Afghan group, while advocacy organisations raised concerns about sending Afghans to a country facing its own security and humanitarian challenges.
The issue has also drawn criticism from U.S. veterans and lawmakers who argue that Washington has a responsibility to protect Afghans who worked alongside American troops. Republican Congressman and retired brigadier general Don Bacon has described the U.S. obligation to those allies as a moral one, saying commitments made to them should be honoured.
Conditions at Camp As Sayliyah have also become more difficult amid regional conflict. Afghans and their supporters have reported missile activity and falling debris near the facility, adding security concerns to the uncertainty surrounding their long-delayed resettlement.
The camp has been used as a major U.S. processing and transit facility for Afghans evacuated after the Taliban takeover. Its future has been uncertain as Washington has sought to reduce the number of Afghans remaining there and identify alternative destinations.