Uganda says it has taken in 51 evacuees from Afghanistan at request of US

Ugandan officials on Wednesday announced that the country had taken in 51 evacuees from Afghanistan at the request of the United States.

A statement from Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the evacuees were men, women and children who had undergone COVID-19 testing and security screening. No additional details regarding the identities of the evacuees were provided and it was not immediately clear where the evacuees would be relocated.

“The decision to host those in need, is informed by the Government of Uganda’s consistent policy of receiving refugees and persons in distress as well as playing a responsible role in matters of International concern,” the ministry said in a statement.

ARRIVAL OF EVACUEES FROM AFGHANISTAN IN UGANDA

The @GovUganda this morning received 51 evacuees from Afghanistan who arrived aboard a privately chartered flight at Entebbe International Airport. #DiplomacyUG pic.twitter.com/uY9NTRczdD

— Uganda Media Centre (@UgandaMediaCent) August 25, 2021

Uganda was among a list of countries announced by State Department spokesperson Ned Price last week that had “made generous offers regarding the relocation efforts for at-risk Afghans.” Other countries included in this initiative were Albania, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Mexico, Poland, Qatar, Rwanda and Ukraine.

Additionally, Price said that a number of countries were also working with the U.S. that had already started or were going to start “transiting Americans, or in some circumstances others, through their territories to safety.” 

Those countries include Bahrain, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.

The announcement comes following a mass exodus from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover of the country.

Harrowing footage of Afghans trying to leave the country has circulated over social media, including a video showing people holding on to a U.S. military plane as it made its way toward departure.