Can't get to the airport: dozens of California schoolchildren are stuck in Afghanistan

Six California families, including 23 schoolchildren, are stranded in Afghanistan unable to fly out of Kabul airport. And this despite the fact that the deadline for leaving the country is approaching - August 31. The publication spoke about this in more detail. Independent.

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A group of schoolchildren and their parents from the city of El Cajon (California) were in the country on vacation visiting their families on special visas.

"They're still in Afghanistan trying to get to the airport," said Michael Serban, director of family and community engagement for the school district. — Several families, during the summer holidays, independently decided to go home to Afghanistan and see their relatives. Although many of their loved ones are here, their grandparents are still in Afghanistan.”

The US Department of Defense believes that a group of families and schoolchildren are eligible for evacuation and have tickets to leave the country, but they were unable to make it to Kabul airport, according to school officials in El Cajon.

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“The biggest concern is that the Taliban have closed the airport,” Cajon Valley School Board President Tamara Otero said. “We are very worried about our schoolchildren who are stuck there. Therefore, we will make every effort to get them out.”

School leaders say families are safe and confident they can leave the country, but they are working with Congressman Darrell Issa's office to accelerate the process.

“Congressman Issa and his staff are working diligently to remove any bureaucratic barriers and establish the best ways to help those stranded in their efforts to leave Afghanistan and return home safely,” said the congressman's spokesman, Jonathan Wilcox. “We won’t stop until we get answers and action.”

When asked about the families, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki did not appear to be aware of their particular case, but said US authorities are keeping detailed records of Americans remaining in Afghanistan.

US President Joe Biden said the US is still on track to complete a full withdrawal from Afghanistan by August 31, although he warned that it could "adjust this timetable if the need arises."

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“We are now nearing completion,” he said. “The sooner we finish, the better.” Every day increases the risk to our troops."

The US has already recalled 300 of the nearly 6000 troops stationed at Kabul airport.

Since Aug. 14, the US has helped evacuate some 58 people, according to the White House.

The Taliban said they still allow foreign nationals to leave the country, but closed their borders to Afghans themselves trying to leave.

“We are no longer allowing the evacuation of Afghans,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, adding that highly qualified specialists such as doctors and professors “cannot leave this country, they must work.”

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