Ask Onix
Hundreds of Afghan evacuees face uncertain future in Qatar camp
More than 1,100 Afghans who worked with the U.S. government remain trapped in a transit camp in Doha after the Trump administration halted resettlement plans and ordered the facility's closure by 31 March.
Broken promises and rising dangers
Alia, a former Afghan lawyer whose name has been changed for her safety, says she feels abandoned. "We have been betrayed-not by the American people, but by those in government who promised to take us to safety in America," she told reporters. After the Taliban seized power in 2021, she fled Afghanistan, fearing retaliation for defending women in domestic abuse cases.
Now, the escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has turned the camp into a potential target. Al-Udeid Air Base, a frequent Iranian strike zone, lies just 19 km away. Evacuees report growing panic among children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
"The danger is not directed at Qatar itself; the actual targets are American bases in Qatar-one of which is us. People wander the corridors and cry."
U.S. policy shifts leave evacuees in limbo
Camp As-Sayliyah, a former U.S. Army base, was established under the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome to process Afghans for resettlement. However, the Trump administration reversed course in January 2025, suspending refugee processing on its first day in office. By June, Afghan nationals were barred from entering the U.S. under a broader travel ban.
The final blow came in November after an Afghan man fatally shot a National Guard member in Washington, D.C. The incident made exceptions for the evacuees nearly impossible, according to advocates.
Desperate pleas and dwindling options
Latif, an elderly evacuee who worked at a U.S. base in Afghanistan, broke down while speaking to the BBC. "I worked honestly and faithfully with the Americans for years. They never saw any betrayal from me," he said. "This is not human rights."
The U.S. State Department has ruled out forced returns to Afghanistan but confirmed some evacuees accepted voluntary repatriation offers of $4,500 for the main applicant and $1,200 per family member. The funds would cover living expenses for 18-24 months, but Afghanistan's economic crisis makes long-term survival uncertain.
Advocates demand U.S. accountability
Shawn VanDiver, a U.S. military veteran and founder of the charity AfghanEvac, called the situation a moral failure. "These people were brought to Qatar by the U.S. government and told they'd move to America," he said. "They're not random refugees-they're connected to the U.S. mission and in danger because of it."
The State Department defended the camp's closure, calling indefinite detention "neither appropriate nor humane." It also criticized the Biden administration's vetting process, though VanDiver dismissed the claim as unfounded, citing two decades of rigorous screening.
Uncertain path forward
The State Department is negotiating with third countries to relocate the evacuees but has not disclosed potential destinations or timelines. Alia's message is clear: "If America doesn't happen, we want an alternative like America."
VanDiver warned that abandoning the evacuees would damage U.S. credibility with future allies. "After 20 years of war, these people escaped persecution only to face another nightmare," he said.
