Evacuees say they feel betrayed by US decision
For 18 months, Alia has been waiting in a transit camp in Qatar for her promised resettlement to the United States. But now that route appears to have closed, leaving Afghan evacuees in the Qatar camp uncertain about their future.
“We have been betrayed. Not by the American people, but by those in government who had promised to take us to safety in America,” says Alia, who worked as a lawyer in Afghanistan before the Taliban took power in 2021.
Over 1,000 evacuees left in uncertainty
Alia is among more than 1,100 people evacuated from Afghanistan by the US who are now stuck in Camp As-Sayliyah in Doha, a former US military base used to process evacuees under Operation Allies Welcome.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration announced the camp would close by 31 March and that evacuees would no longer be resettled in the US.
Fears grow amid regional conflict
Their anxiety has intensified as tensions rise in the region. Iranian strikes have hit areas near US bases in Qatar, including Al-Udeid air base located around 19km from the camp.
Evacuees say they feel increasingly unsafe.
“The danger is not directed at Qatar itself, the actual targets are American bases in Qatar, one of which is us,” the group said in a collective message, describing distress among children, pregnant women and the elderly.
Appeals for US intervention
The evacuees have appealed to US President Donald Trump for an exception due to the volatile situation.
Shawn VanDiver, a US military veteran and head of AfghanEvac, said those stranded had worked with US forces and were at risk because of that connection.
“These are all people that for one reason or another were connected to the United States mission in Afghanistan,” he said.
Policy changes closed resettlement route
The pathway to US resettlement has narrowed since early 2025. On his first day in office, Trump signed an order suspending refugee processing, followed by a wider travel ban that included Afghan nationals.
The closure of the camp marked the final blow for many evacuees.
‘This is not human rights’
Fellow evacuee Latif, who worked at a US base in Afghanistan, described severe emotional and physical strain.
“I worked honestly and faithfully with the Americans for years,” he said. “I am under so much stress that it’s made me ill… This is not human rights.”
Some evacuees said they were initially encouraged to return to Afghanistan, something they strongly rejected due to fears of retaliation from the Taliban.
Fear of returning to Afghanistan
Alia said she had defended women in domestic abuse cases and fears revenge from individuals now in power.
“The people I helped convict are now in power. They will seek revenge against me,” she said.
Although the Taliban declared an amnesty in 2021, evacuees expressed little trust in those assurances.
Uncertain future as talks continue
The US State Department said it is in discussions with third countries to resettle evacuees but provided no timeline or details.
It also defended the decision, saying it was not appropriate to keep people indefinitely at the camp.
VanDiver rejected claims that evacuees had not been properly vetted, saying they had undergone repeated checks.
‘We want an alternative’
Alia said evacuees are seeking a safe alternative if resettlement in the US is no longer possible.
“We came here because we were told we would go to America. If America does not happen, we want an alternative like America,” she said.
After decades of conflict in Afghanistan, many evacuees now find themselves trapped in uncertainty once again.
Source: BBC
Also read: Trump threatens to “blow up” Iran gas field if Qatar hit again
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