The Philippines to Provide Temporary Refuge for Afghan Immigrants Awaiting US Resettlement
The United States and the Philippines have formalized an agreement to accommodate a limited number of Afghan immigrants who are being assessed for resettlement in the United States. The US government will be providing essential services for these individuals during the visa processing in the Philippines, including provisions for food, housing, security, medical care, and transportation.
This announcement is a result of the longstanding bilateral cooperation between the US and the Philippines. The US Department of State has expressed gratitude to the Philippine government for its support of Afghan allies of the United States. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the agreement is currently undergoing final domestic procedures to ensure its effectiveness.
While the exact number of Afghan immigrants to be processed in the Philippines has not been specified by Washington and Manila, it has been reported that approximately 300 Afghan applicants will undergo visa processing in the Southeast Asian country. This development signals a strengthening of ties between the two nations.
The decision to relocate Afghan immigrants to the US follows the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 after the withdrawal of US forces. Since then, over 160,000 Afghans have been resettled in the US, with thousands more awaiting visa processing in third countries under Operation Allies Welcome. These individuals, many of whom worked for the US government before the dissolution of the Afghan National Security Forces, are being considered for potential resettlement.
The proposal to host Afghan applicants in the Philippines initially faced opposition from some Filipinos on legal and security grounds. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office in 2022, expressed concerns about potential security issues while highlighting the country’s longstanding tradition of accepting refugees.
As the US and the Philippines progress with this agreement, it reflects the ongoing collaboration between the two nations in addressing the global challenge of refugee resettlement. The provision of temporary refuge for Afghan immigrants awaiting US resettlement underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing humanitarian crises.
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