Biden authorizes emergency funding of US$100 million for Afghan refugees Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters)-The White House said that US President Joe Biden allocated up to $100 million from an emergency fund on Friday to meet the “unexpected emergency” refugee needs caused by the situation in Afghanistan, including visa applicants for special immigrants in Afghanistan. .

The White House stated that Biden also authorized the release of $200 million in services and goods from the inventory of US government agencies to meet the same demand.

The United States is preparing to begin the evacuation of thousands of Afghans who have applied for special immigrant visas (SIV). These people are at risk of retaliation by the Taliban insurgents because of the work of the US government.

The first batch of evacuees and their families are expected to fly to Fort Lee, a US military base in Virginia, before the end of this month, where they will wait for the final processing of their visa applications.

The Pentagon said on Monday that approximately 2,500 Afghans can be taken to a facility about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Richmond.

The Biden administration is reviewing other U.S. facilities in the U.S. and overseas that can accommodate SIV applicants and their families.

After the US-led invasion in 2001, Afghans who worked as translators or other jobs for the US government could obtain special immigrant visas.

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a piece of legislation that would increase the number of SIVs that can be granted by 8,000, which will cover all possible eligible applications.

US officials say that approximately 18,000 such applications are being processed.