The Left-Behind Americans In Afghanistan: A Complex Humanitarian Crisis

The number of American civilians in Afghanistan has been the subject of much debate and speculation, with estimates varying widely. Initially, the State Department reported that there were up to 15,000 Americans in Afghanistan who required rapid evacuation. However, this number was later revised to 6,000, which included only those citizens seeking to leave the country as part of the urgent airlift out of Kabul's airport. The White House puts the figure at 100 to 200, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the number was likely closer to 100. The challenge in determining an exact figure lies in the fact that there are long-time residents of Afghanistan with American passports who are undecided about whether they want to leave, as well as dual citizens with deep roots and extended families in the country.

The US government estimates that there are between 100 and 200 American citizens in Afghanistan

The White House's estimate falls within a wider range of estimates of the number of American citizens in Afghanistan at that time. On August 17, 2021, US State Department officials reported a figure of 15,000 Americans in the country. However, this was later corrected to a fuzzy estimate that included Americans who might have been in Afghanistan, as there is no requirement for Americans to register their overseas travel.

On August 25, Secretary of State Antony Blinken provided a lower estimate of 6,000 American citizens in Afghanistan who wanted to leave as part of the urgent airlift out of Kabul's airport. Blinken noted that this number included dual citizens and Americans who had initially intended to stay but later decided to leave. By August 30, the State Department reported that about 5,500 US citizens had left Afghanistan since August 14, with about 250 still seeking to depart.

While the exact number of Americans remaining in Afghanistan is unknown, the White House's estimate of 100 to 200 citizens who intend to leave is considered the most accurate figure. This number does not include US legal permanent residents or green card holders, as confirmed by State Department spokesman Ned Price. The Biden administration pledged to continue working to help Americans leave Afghanistan through diplomatic efforts.

The State Department estimates there are between 5,000 and 10,000 American citizens in Afghanistan

The State Department estimates that there are between 5,000 and 10,000 American citizens in Afghanistan. This estimate is based on the number of people who had registered with the State Department as being in Afghanistan, and it is acknowledged that this is a “very, very rough estimate". The challenge in determining an exact number lies in the fact that Americans do not have to inform the government when they travel abroad, and registration with the State Department when overseas is not mandatory.

The number of American citizens in Afghanistan who wanted to leave as part of the urgent airlift out of Kabul's airport was estimated to be around 6,000. This included Americans who were undecided about leaving and those who initially wanted to stay but later changed their minds. A number of Americans, especially dual citizens, decided to remain in Afghanistan.

The State Department has pledged to continue assisting American citizens who wish to leave Afghanistan, even if they initially expressed a desire to stay. They are working with other countries on the ground, such as Qatar and Turkey, to support these efforts.

The Biden administration has faced criticism from Republicans for leaving American citizens behind during the evacuation. However, the administration maintains that the vast majority (90-98%) of Americans who wanted to leave Afghanistan were successfully evacuated.

The number of Americans in Afghanistan dropped from 15,000 to 6,000 in a week

The State Department then enlisted hundreds of officials to track down the people on the list. Many had already left the country, and some had never been there but had signed up for consular notices. Others were not U.S. citizens. At the same time, the department contacted Americans in Afghanistan who had not registered, asking them to get in touch if they wished to leave. This led to the second number—6,000—which was the figure for Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave as part of the urgent airlift out of Kabul.

The State Department's handling of the evacuation has been scrutinized by Congress, with lawmakers expressing frustration at the lack of specific numbers and the slow release of data. The Biden administration has defended its actions, stating that 90% of Americans who wanted to leave Afghanistan were able to do so. However, this has been contested by some, including House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, who suggested that the number of Americans left behind may be in the thousands.

The US military evacuated 7,000 people from Kabul since the Taliban took back control

The US military evacuated 7,000 people from Kabul in the first five days since the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan. The Pentagon confirmed that the US military had been evacuating approximately 7,000 people out of Kabul, Afghanistan, by cargo aircraft. The US military can airlift between 5,000 to 9,000 people a day out of Kabul, but that depends on the number of people at the airfield ready to leave.

The evacuation efforts became more urgent as the Taliban took control of Kabul and declared victory on 15 August 2021. The US and its allies had to complete the evacuation before the deadline agreed upon with the Taliban. The US military evacuated about 82,300 people from Hamid Karzai International Airport, including US citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants, and other vulnerable Afghans. The evacuation was completed on 30 August, one day before the deadline.

The US military went beyond the airport to carry out helicopter retrieval of Americans. US officials stated that a military helicopter picked up 16 American citizens and brought them to the airfield for evacuation. The Pentagon does not have the capability to safely escort Americans to the airport for evacuation. The US Embassy in Kabul issued a warning stating that it "cannot ensure safe passage" to the airport.

The US State Department estimated that about 6,000 Americans sought evacuation. About 300 Americans are still in the country, according to figures released on Sunday. That indicates that approximately 5,700 citizens have been evacuated. The White House releases only sporadic numbers on the daily evacuations of Americans.

The evacuation operations were one of the largest airlifts in history. The US military evacuated more than 10,000 people from Kabul in 24 hours on Sunday, and 61 coalition planes helped evacuate approximately 5,900 people. Since 14 August, the US has evacuated or helped evacuate about 37,000 people from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

The Biden administration pledged to continue reaching out to Americans left in Afghanistan and help them leave

The Biden administration has been working to get American citizens out of Afghanistan since March, when they first reached out to Americans in the country with multiple warnings and offers to help them leave. Since then, the administration has evacuated more than 5,500 Americans from the country.

The exact number of Americans still in Afghanistan who want to leave is unknown. The White House puts the figure at 100 to 200, while one Republican lawmaker suggested the figure was much higher. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that there are fewer than 200 Americans the U.S. still needs to get out of the country, and that the administration is trying to determine an exact number by going through manifests and doing outreach to those who need help getting out.

Most of those who remain in Afghanistan are dual citizens or longtime residents with deep roots and extended families in the country. For many, the decision to leave is a painful one. The State Department has said that it will help any American who wants to leave Afghanistan to get out, even if they initially said they wanted to stay.

The Biden administration is working with more than 100 countries to ensure safe passage for American citizens wishing to leave Afghanistan. They are also working to reopen the Kabul airport and establish overland routes for those who want to leave. The Taliban has publicly committed to allowing anyone with proper documents to leave the country, and the administration is holding them to that promise.

The Biden administration has pledged to continue working to get Americans out of Afghanistan, even after the withdrawal of U.S. troops. They are committed to getting Americans out of the country if they want to leave and are working with international allies to make that happen.

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