Kim Urges Focus On Evacuations In Afghanistan Crisis

WASHINGTON, DC — As the crisis in Afghanistan accelerates, U.S. Rep. Andy Kim says he is working to try to get as many people who need help out of the country.

In a Twitter thread on Monday, Kim urged people who are trying to get out or who know people trying to leave to contact him.

"I am compiling names to try and push for evacuation. I cannot promise anything but will do everything I can. Email RepKimEvac@mail.house.gov," said Kim, who represents New Jersey's 3rd District. Kim worked for the U.S. State Department as a foreign affairs officer from 2009-2013, including spending part of 2011 in Afghanistan.

The tweets came as U.S. forces and international troops were trying to clear the Kabul airport so evacuation flights can resume, Reuters reported, quoting Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.

More U.S. troops were being sent in to help guard the evacuation, Reuters reported, which has taken on greater urgency after the Taliban seized the capital. The U.S. military suspended evacuations, even criticism grows at home over the withdrawal.

Kim, in a Twitter thread Sunday, said he is focused on "saving as many lives as possible in the next few days and weeks. Let’s remember that those most in harm’s way are Afghans fighting for their lives."

He urged the State Department to "set aside the bureaucracy that has backlogged their visa applications for years and just get them out of danger," referring to Afghans who had helped the U.S. forces during their time in the country. "We have to prioritize them."

"I worked there 10 years ago, and I know first hand how much these Afghans risked their lives and their families to work with us," Kim wrote. "We should help them because it is the right thing to do."

On Monday Kim tweeted the following information for those trying to help family or friends get out of Afghanistan:

• AMERICAN CITIZENS: If you or someone you know is an American in Afghanistan that wants to get out, have them fill out the form below. They can also email RepKimEvac@mail.house.gov or call my office at (202) 225-4765 if we can help follow up and push. The form is here.
• SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA: If you/someone you know has an approved petition for a Special Immigrant Visa, email NVCSIV@state.gov or call 1-603-334-0828. For those with/without approved petitions, email my congressional office so we can try and push for an urgent evac. RepKimEvac@mail.house.gov
• P-2: If you/someone to know worked as a contractor with NGO, media, etc. my office is pushing for P-2 holders to have safe passage immediately. If you have questions, or are eligible and need assistance contact my office at RepKimEvac@mail.house.gov.

People in the United States who want to help with the evacuation efforts on U.S. soil can volunteer in a number of ways, Kim said, from for airport pickups, and apartment setups, to meals for Afghans. Here’s a list of ways to volunteer to help evacuated Afghans.

Here are NGOs/charities working in Afghanistan you can support.

"I continue to struggle finding the words to describe the tragedy in Afghanistan," Kim said. "The immediate question on many of our minds is how did we get here? I have many thoughts on that."

"To take a step back, this is all very hard to accept. Part of me wanted to believe that Afghanistan would hold. But someone just reminded me, 'No one wants this to be real.' We don’t want to accept that this crisis is happening, but we must," Kim wrote.

"I worked in Afghanistan 10 years ago. It was clear that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) didn’t have deep roots. I saw that again when I visited in 2019 on a bipartisan Congressional delegation. A failure by both parties over the years," he said. "But let’s at least unite and commit as a nation to save as many people as we can. Right now. No excuses. Let’s do everything we can. Put aside partisanship and help those who helped us."

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