Statement on Secretary Blinken Meeting 7/21/2022

As an active member of the AfghanEvac coalition, we had the opportunity on July 20 to meet with Secretary Antony Blinken to talk about the current situation for Afghans - including SIVs, Hazaras, women and girls, and other vulnerable groups. The stories shared with Secretary Blinken were emotional and heart-wrenching, of separated families, populations facing genocide, families and individuals who have had their futures torn from them. The incredible passion and commitment of the volunteers working with Afghans was evident, but our partners also shared the toll this work has taken on volunteers, who are responding on a daily basis to desperate pleas for help.

We were grateful to hear Secretary Blinken underscore his personal commitment to the safety and wellbeing of Afghans. We are heartened that the State Department’s Coordinator for Afghan Relocation has become a permanent office within the agency’s South Central Asia bureau. 

“It was vital that Secretary Blinken take the time to hear the painful stories of Afghans, which are representative of what so many are suffering. We appreciate his time, and his commitment to bringing vulnerable Afghans to safety. We reiterate our own commitment to welcoming Afghans in the U.S.” 

Reshad Ahmadi and Amy Robertson, Hearts & Homes for Refugees representatives to the AfghanEvac coalition

At this point one year ago, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was in sight, and Hearts & Homes was all hands on deck, rapidly recruiting and training volunteers to participate in our SIV Assistance project. Like many, we made the commitment to help our Afghan allies in any way we could. We never looked back, and we have a cadre of volunteers who continue to work to bring Afghans to safety, at the same time that we are welcoming and resettling Afghans and others in the U.S.

Hearts & Homes for Refugees has had more than 70 volunteers - in New York, across the country and from far corners of the globe - support at-risk Afghans with their SIV applications. We have some 250 volunteers assisting Afghans and other refugees with their resettlement in the U.S. 

Nearly two years ago, Hearts & Homes was on calls with Tony Blinken, then foreign policy advisor for Biden's 2020 presidential campaign. He stated then his commitment to refugees, and we applaud his ongoing commitment. We urge President Biden to continue to strengthen efforts to save our Afghan allies.

Read AfghanEvac's press release here: https://afghanevac.org/blinken-meeting/