‘A humanitarian nightmare’
Blumenthal calls for expanded effort to help Afghan refugees evacuate
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Sunday called for an expanded effort to help evacuate Afghanistan residents who sided with Americans during the war, describing the situation there as a “humanitarian nightmare.”
“I think the situation is heartbreaking. It's a humanitarian nightmare that our nation contributed to making,” Blumenthal said in an interview. “We have an obligation to protect the Afghan interpreters, guards, and others, who helped save American lives by working with us.”
The Taiban took control Sunday of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, as the government collapsed, according to the Associated Press.
Afghans, including the president, rushed to leave the country in fear the Taliban could reimpose the kind of rule that all but eliminated women’s rights there, the AP reported.
Commercial flights were suspended after gunfire erupted at times at the Kabul airport and helicopters evacuated personnel from the U.S. Embassy. The U.S. Embassy suspended operations and warned Americans to shelter in place and not try to get to the airport.
Blumenthal said there were an estimated 60,000 Afghan people, including the families of interpreters and others who protected American troops, in need of
help leaving the country.
He said he would work with a bipartisan coalition to expand the number of Special Immigrant Visas available. Afghans could also be eligible for temporary protective status or parole, he said.
Gov. Ned Lamont’s office could not be reached Sunday for comment on whether the state was engaged in an effort to help.
Anne O’Brien, director of community engagement at Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services, said Friday that six families, an estimated 20 people, have come to New Haven, as part of the first wave to escape the war-torn country and receive final processing at Fort Lee in Virginia.
Some 70,000 Afghans have re-settled in the U.S. under the special visa
program since 2008, according to the Richmond Free Press.
Blumenthal said while he advocated for a firm plan for the evacuation process, he was unsure whether one was in place.
“I question whether there was a plan to address this kind of humanitarian nightmare,” Blumenthal said. “And I hope there is, and I hope it's pursued.”
Blumenthal said he hoped the Taliban would heed the messages being conveyed by American representatives — help evacuate visa holders and any action to put troops at risk would be met with a swift and strong response.
He said he hoped U.S. armed forces and intelligence would be vigilant in watching for any threats from terrorist groups like Al Qaeda or ISIS, which would need to be met “sternly and strongly if they seek to do harm to our country.”