The US authorities will help “mandatory providers” for Afghans processing visas within the Southeast Asian nation.
The Philippines has agreed to quickly host a “restricted quantity” of Afghans who’re being thought-about for resettlement in america, U.S. and Philippine officers introduced.
The U.S. authorities will present “mandatory providers” to Afghans whereas they’re processing their visas within the Philippines, together with meals, lodging, safety, medical care and transportation, the U.S. State Division stated in a press release on Monday.
“The USA values its lengthy and constructive historical past of bilateral cooperation with the Philippines and thanks the Philippine authorities for supporting America’s Afghan allies,” the State Division stated.
The Philippine Division of International Affairs stated in a press release that the settlement was present process “ultimate inside procedures” mandatory to make sure its effectiveness.
Washington and Manila didn’t specify what number of Afghans must apply for visas within the Philippines.
However the Washington Put up, citing unnamed US officers, stated about 300 Afghan candidates can be processed within the Southeast Asian nation.
The deal is the newest signal of deepening ties between Washington and Manila underneath Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose election in 2022 marked a departure from the pro-China stance of his populist predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.
Greater than 160,000 Afghans have been resettled in america since 2021, when the Taliban regained management of the nation following the withdrawal of US forces.
Hundreds extra persons are in third nations awaiting visa processing for doable relocation underneath an initiative referred to as Operation Allies Welcome.
A lot of these eligible for resettlement labored for the US authorities earlier than the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan Nationwide Safety Forces.
Information that america had requested its ally to contemplate internet hosting Afghan candidates sparked opposition from some Filipinos on authorized and safety grounds when it turned public final 12 months.
Marcos stated final June that the proposal raised “many safety considerations,” although he highlighted the Philippines’ “lengthy custom” of accepting refugees.
