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Afghanistan: What'¯ We Know

VOA News

   U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he will keep U.S. troops
   in Afghanistan until the last Americans are evacuated from the country.
   He had set an August 31deadlinefor the withdrawal of the last U.S.
   troops.

   The World Food Program's country director for Afghanistan, Mary Ellen
   McGroarty, is warning of a humanitarian disaster with 14 million people
   facing severe hunger. Speaking to reporters in a video briefing
   Wednesday, she described additional challenges facing the country,
   including severe drought and the coronavirus pandemic.

   At least three people died Wednesday when Taliban militants attacked
   protesters in the city of Jalalabad. The demonstrators were trying to
   take down a Taliban flag and replace it with Afghanistan's national
   flag.

   The International Monetary Fund suspended Afghanistan's access to
   resources, with a spokesman citing "alack of clarity within the
   international community regarding recognition of a government in
   Afghanistan."

   U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said U.S. forces are focused on
   securing Kabul's airport and cannot helppeople reach the site. A White
   House official said military flights have taken nearly 6,000 people
   from the country sinceSaturday.

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