By Sophia Doan
In August of 2021, America controversially withdrew its troops from Afghanistan, letting the country, once again, fall to the Taliban: a fundamentalist, Islamic militia known for their oppressiveness and removal of women’s rights. Since Afghanistan fell in 2021, more than 1.6 million Afghans have fled the country, (UNrefugees.org) leaving them with no home, and hard refugee status, including complicated legal processes, difficult living situations, and separation from family, all over the world.
After President Biden decided to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban seized the capital, Kabul. “The dayslong withdrawal turned deadly when an attack by the Islamic terrorist group killed 170 Afghan citizens and 13 U.S. service members outside Kabul’s airport,” PBS wrote about the chaotic day. Jaw-dropping news stories depicted Afghans trying to climb onto planes as they were taking off, crowding the airports, trying to escape. Resettlement agencies only received 2 weeks’ notice of the crisis, hardly having time to prepare for the largest protracted refugee situation in history.
Soon forgotten by news channels as they shifted to more current issues, the refugee crisis is still affecting displaced Afghans as they come to America and try to make a life here. Leaving Afghanistan was sudden, heartbreaking, and due to intense airport conditions and no time to prepare, and sometimes family-separating.