U.S. offers financial assistance to Afghans in Qatar who choose to return home

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Department of State has begun a process of providing financial assistance to some Afghans who have been waiting for years in the “Al Udeid” camp in Qatar to be resettled in other countries and now wish to return voluntarily to Afghanistan. Reuters reports, citing Paul Kapur, the Assistant Secretary of State, that approximately 150 individuals have accepted this financial offer so far. According to the report, the U.S. government emphasized that these returns are not mandatory and that discussions are ongoing with several countries for the resettlement of these individuals. Meanwhile, some members of the Democratic Party have described this action as a “betrayal of Afghan allies.” Shawn Vandiver, head of the organization “Afghan Evac,” stated that the amount offered is $4,500 for the primary applicant and $1,200 for each additional family member; however, the resettlement of these individuals to third countries has not yet been finalized.