The Foreign Ministry announced a new initiative aimed at integrating Afghans into American society.
The Department of State said on Monday it would work with private organizations to help Afghans who resettled in the United States after the withdrawal of American troops from the country and the Taliban came to power.
Tens of thousands of Afghans have been evacuated to the United States. Many of them would have been in danger if they had not left their country.
According to the Department of State, the new program will allow the formation of “sponsorship circles” to provide initial support to refugees as they arrive and help them settle in communities across the country.
“Americans from all walks of life have shown great interest in helping these people,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, stressing that the new program will help people take a direct part in the integration of new neighbors.
According to him, the program, launched in partnership with the private group Community Sponsorship Hub, will expand the government’s ability to resettle Afghans, complementing the work of non-profit resettlement agencies.
President Biden’s administration is working to accommodate up to 50,000 refugees in the United States.
Some refugee rights organizations have called on the United States to launch a private or public sponsorship program similar to the model used in Canada.
Last month, former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama took part in the launch of a new initiative called Welcome.US, aimed at providing support to Afghan refugees.
