AfghanEvac: ~150 US military family members stranded at Qatar camp facing closure

Published Aug 20, 02:53 PM UTC

An aid organization, AfghanEvac, reports that approximately 150 family members of U.S. troops and veterans are stranded at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar, which the U.S. plans to close on September 30. The families, including the brother of former Marine Gunnery Sergeant Sean Jamshidi, have been waiting for nearly two years for visas to the United States. AfghanEvac says about 3,000 military family members are affected by a halt in visa distribution to Afghans that began late last year. Many have received consulate approval and completed interviews but lack final paperwork. As the U.S. marks the fifth anniversary of the Afghanistan withdrawal, a coalition is urging Congress to pass the Afghanistan TPS Act to create temporary protected status and restart visa processing. Rep. Don Bacon supports a discharge petition to force a vote. Residents at the camp also face mental health crises from nearby missile strikes related to the Iranian conflict.