[News] The first batch of Afghan translators fleeing the Taliban arrives in the United States

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US President Joe Biden announced on Friday the arrival of the first batch of Afghans who worked for the US military on a flight to the United States, at the start of an operation to evacuate thousands of people for fear of possible retaliation by the Taliban.

Nearly 20,000 Afghans worked for the United States after the invasion in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. They applied for evacuation under the State Department's Special Immigrant Visa Program.

Some estimate that the total number of people who will be evacuated under Operation Allied Sanctuary will reach 100,000 after accounting for family members.

Many of them fear retaliation from the Taliban movement, which has now controlled large swathes of the country, since foreign forces began the first phase of their withdrawal, which is expected to be completed in late August.

"Today marks an important milestone as we continue to deliver on our promise to the thousands of Afghan citizens who have served alongside American forces and diplomats for the past 20 years in Afghanistan," Biden said in a statement released by the White House.

National Security Council official Russ Travers said that the first group, which includes about 200 people, will complete health and other procedures before sending its members to new homes across the country.

"All of them have completed rigorous security checks conducted by intelligence officials and national and internal security agencies," he added.

The group will be transported to the Fort Lee military base near Petersburg, Virginia, according to Tracey Jacobson, in charge of the State Department's Afghanistan operation.

"They have all been tested for Covid, have permission to travel, and we have offered vaccines in Kabul to those who wish to receive them," Jacobson told reporters. "We will also be showing those vaccines at Fort Lee," she added.

They will then be sent, with the assistance of the United Nations International Organization for Migration, to new homes, either with relatives in the United States, or to other homes arranged by the International Organization for Migration and the State Department.

- tough times -

On Thursday, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reiterated Washington's promise to locals who worked for the United States in Afghanistan.

He stressed during a visit to Kuwait that "the United States is committed to assisting those who have helped us through the difficult times in Afghanistan in the past twenty years, including translators and interpreters."

Officials said it would take time to study their files and those of their families.

"We certainly intend to continue this program after the withdrawal of troops" on August 31, Jacobson said. "We will move them as quickly as we can logistically," she added.

She said Washington was studying how to help Afghans who are not eligible for the program but face specific threats, such as women leaders, human rights activists and journalists.

On Thursday, the US Congress unanimously approved a measure allocating $1.1 billion to fund the resettlement of Afghans who helped US forces.

The measure now moves to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to be approved before Biden signs it.