Ilhan Omar calls US evacuation of Afghans inspiring urges support for refugees
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has praised the Biden administrationâs evacuation of US citizens and Afghan allies from Kabul, as the deadline for Americaâs full withdrawal fast approaches.
On Saturday, MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan asked Ms Omar if the president âsurprisedâ her with his commitment to ending the 20-year war.
âHe certainly has,â the congresswoman responded. âThe level of evacuation that his administration has been able to undertake is really inspiring and thereâs important work thatâs getting done.â
The White House said on Saturday that it had evacuated 111,900 people from Afghanistan since the Taliban retook control of Kabul in mid-August. On Friday alone, 6,800 people were airlifted out â" in spite of an ISIS-K attack on the cityâs airport that killed over 180 people.
Ms Omar, a progressive Democrat who often criticises President Biden, believes in this case he deserves more credit.
âEven after the terrorist attack at Kabul Airport, we continue to airlift and evacuate people,â Ms Omar said. âThat is commendable work.â
The Minnesota representative also urged Americans to welcome in as many Afghan refugees as possible in the wake of the crisis, especially those who risked their lives to assist the US military.
âWeâve made promises obviously that we couldnât keep,â Ms Omar said, âbut the one promise we can keep is making sure that we protect everyone that has been made vulnerable because of our mission.â
For Ms Omar, who came to the US as a refugee after fleeing the Somali Civil War, the issue is personal.
âItâs really hard to watch any of these images that we continue to see on our screens without being taken back,â she said. âI was a child in a family that was scattering and searching for refuge.â
The congresswoman credited her survival to her familyâs âfaith in humanityâ and âthe welcoming spirit of the American people.â
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