Evacuation of Afghanistan: Washington mobilizes planes from private companies
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Sunday "to take charge of as many people as possible, for as long as possible."
Olivier DOULIERY AFP / Archivos
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Thousands of Afghan families are still trying to flee the country as evacuations continue.
Washington announced this Sunday, August 22, that it had requisitioned the planes of several private airlines to carry out evacuations to air bases in the Middle East.
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A total of 18 planes will be mobilized belonging to the companies American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, Omni Air, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines, according to information from the British newspaper
The Guardien
.
These planes will not take off from Kabul airport, but will help transport those who have been evacuated to third countries, such as Qatar or the United Arab Emirates.
The program, called Craf, will allow "
army planes to focus on operations in Kabul,
" the Pentagon said.
The Craf has only been triggered twice in the past, during the Gulf War in 1990-91, then in 2002-03 during the invasion of Iraq.
Washington wants to evacuate all Americans
Since August 14, some 17,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan by the United States, including 2,500 Americans.
But a week after the Taliban took power,
thousands of people
are still trying to flee the country on Sunday, and chaos still reigned at Kabul airport, where scenes of panic and despair follow one another.
In an interview with ABC, US President Joe Biden said the United States plans to evacuate all Americans (between 10,000 and 15,000 people according to some estimates), and hopes to be able to do the same for the Afghan allies. and their families (between 50,000 and 65,000 people).
Time is running out before August 31, the date set by the US administration for the final withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.
"
We will continue to assess the situation, and work as hard as possible to get as many people out as possible,
" Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said Sunday morning on ABC.
►
To read also: Evacuation of Afghanistan: Biden “does not guarantee the final outcome” of the operation
"We will take care of as many people as possible
"
"
We can't give an exact number for what we'll be able to do, but I can just tell you that we're going to be looking to exceed expectations, and do as much as possible, take on as many people as possible, for as well. as long as possible
, added Lloyd Austin.
And when we get close to the deadline, we'll make a recommendation to the president.
"
Critics are also rising about the fate of Americans trapped outside the airport, while the United States Embassy in Afghanistan on Saturday urged its nationals to avoid traveling to the airport, because of "
potential security threats
”.
"
We continue to consider different ways, inventive ways, to contact American citizens and help them get to the airfield,
" said the Minister of Defense.
►
To read also: Evacuations from Afghanistan: a gigantic airlift mobilizes planes from all over the world
London asks Washington to review schedule
NATO urges the Taliban to allow evacuations.
The Taliban, for their part, consider the Americans responsible for the chaos that has reigned at Kabul airport for several days.
Twenty Afghan civilians were killed over the weekend in mob movements and stampede, according to the British Ministry of Defense.
The United Kingdom, which asks the United States to review the timetable and encourages them to stay in Afghanistan beyond August 31, the official date of the final withdrawal of American troops there.
A G7 meeting will take place on Tuesday announces British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss the Afghan situation.
(with
AFP
)
►
To read also: Afghanistan: "The Taliban already violently repress all musical activity" [Interview]
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Afghanistan
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