The U.S. State Department announced this week that 76 more Americans remain in Afghanistan. Of those, 20 want to flee the country as soon as possible, National Review reported.
Families of Americans stuck in the Taliban-controlled country have written letters to Joe Biden pleading with him to help them get out, to no avail.
The additional number of U.S. citizens waiting to leave comes just days after the State Department reportedly told Congress in a phone call that they are in contact with 363 Americans within Afghanistan. 176 wish to depart.
According to National Review, Colin Kahl, who is the under secretary of Defense for Policy, gave testimony in front of the Senate regarding the number of Americans who remain in the war-torn country following U.S. troop withdrawal.
Replying to Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., he confirmed “In terms of how many American citizens we estimate are currently Afghanistan, the Department of State is in contact with 196 American citizens who are ready to depart, and arrangements are being made for them to do so either via air or overground, and another 243 American citizens have been contacted and are not ready to depart, either because they want to stay in Afghanistan or are not ready.”
After Kahl’s testimony, the State Department increased this number by 56 people, according to the outlet.
Biden has vowed to get Americans out of Afghanistan, but this still has not occurred as Kabul International Airport evacuation flights remain suspended.
