Task Force Argo’s Post

US vetted, screened, and approved Afghan Allies flights are cancelled leaving them to face immediate deportation back into the hands of the Taliban. This situation raises serious humanitarian concerns. The cancellation of flights for #Afghans who have already been cleared for resettlement, particularly family members of active-duty military personnel and those who worked alongside U.S. forces, puts them at significant risk. Many of these individuals are facing threats from the Taliban due to their association with the former U.S.-backed government, and delays in their resettlement can lead to dire consequences. Moreover, the inclusion of unaccompanied minors complicates the situation further, as these children are particularly vulnerable and in need of reunification with their families for safety and emotional support. The suspension of refugee programs amidst ongoing global crises raises questions about the U.S. commitment to humanitarian values and the protection of those who have assisted American efforts abroad. It's crucial for advocacy groups, policymakers, and the public to come together to address these challenges, ensuring that those in need of protection receive the assistance they deserve. The situation calls for urgent action to honor commitments made to Afghans who supported U.S. efforts, and to uphold the moral responsibility to protect vulnerable populations.😢🙏 #MoralObligation #Nooneleftbehind #AfghanEvac #Wemustdobetter

What does the federal stop work order mean for refugees? ⬇️ Last Friday, the new presidential administration issued a stop work order for all refugee reception and placement services under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). The stop work order directly affects thousands of refugees, including Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders who aided U.S. military and diplomatic missions. Under the stop work order, Global Refuge was ordered to stop serving the 5,870 recently arrived refugees in our care IMMEDIATELY. Recently arrived refugees who fled unimaginable danger and lawfully came to the U.S. rely on the initial assistance of Global Refuge to help them navigate their first 90 days in America. With this abrupt and unprecedented cutoff of federal funding, we must now rely solely on the generosity of supporters to fill in the gaps. How can you help? ☑️ Make a gift: https://bit.ly/40CTt2z. ☑️ Stay tuned to our advocacy hub: https://bit.ly/40wLF2i. ☑️ Get involved in the work of welcome: https://bit.ly/42m8att. While this order seeks to limit our capacity, it will NOT diminish our resolve to walk alongside the families we serve, just as we have for 85 years. Join us in standing with refugee families! #RefugeesWelcome #stopworkorder #workofwelcome

“Blood for blood, and death… O agents of America, we know you work for America. We will undoubtedly prevail.” This threat was made to an Iraqi ally whose application to come to the United States was, after years of delay, still in processing. Only 50 Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) can be issued to eligible Iraqi nationals per year through the Iraqi and Afghan Translator/Interpreter SIV Program. This outdated and insufficient program has left thousands of our closest Iraqi and Syrian allies with only the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program as a pathway to escape after they stood shoulder to shoulder with our troops and diplomats. With U.S. refugee admissions suspended indefinitely, establishing a comprehensive SIV program to bring these allies to safety is imperative. SIVs are legal and highly vetted pathways to safety for our closest allies, and it is time to include our Iraqi and Syrian allies so that they are no longer left vulnerable to violent retribution for their service to U.S. national security. Get involved -- > https://lnkd.in/eW6kfEkx #KeepOurPromise #NoOneLeftBehind

For 3.5 years, my Allied Shepherd team has been assisting endangered Afghans with pathways to the US and Europe. As of last week, the US pathways have all been effectively suspended. Here's my just-published op-ed for RNS explaining the impact of Pres. Trump's executive orders on one Afghan family and their Welcome.US church partners. There are two main pathways to the US for our Afghan wartime allies: as special immigrant visa holders and as refugees. My piece explains the impact of the suspension of the refugee pathway. While the SIV pathway is officially still open, the administration's freezing of foreign aid has halted movement for SIV holders, trapping some at third-country "lily pad" locations and freezing promised assistance for those who arrived in the US within the past 90 days. With February rent now due, recently arrived Afghan allies have been placed in desperate precarity by the administration, breaking more US promises to faithful allies. Join #AfghanEvac, World Relief, No One Left Behind, and so many other organizations in advocating for the US's Afghan wartime allies. https://lnkd.in/eq2tC8p4

Ukraine: Situation Report, 7 October 2024 HIGHLIGHTS > Intensified hostilities and shifting front line impacted civilians and civilian infrastructure in hardest-hit oblasts, causing new displacements, restricting humanitarian access. > Attacks across Ukraine impact the residents of urban centres, causing civilian casualties, including children, and disrupting basic services. Humanitarian response efforts face growing challenges, including safety risks. Six aid workers were killed or injured in July and August alone. > In the first eight months of 2024, the humanitarian community provided at least one form of humanitarian assistance to 6.7 million out of 8.5 million people targeted for support. > The humanitarian response remained underfunded — only 42 per cent of the US$3.1 billion received, which limits aid workers’ capacity to address critical needs as winter approaches. #Ukraine #War #jobs United Nations UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

Afghans who worked alongside the U.S. and are now persecuted cannot access safety if pathways are closed, suspended, or defunded. We must act to protect those who risked everything for our shared values. Here’s how we can restore relocation for Afghans: ✔️ Allow processing for Afghans through all refugee referral mechanisms, including: • P-1 and P-2 referrals • P-3 family reunification • P-4 private sponsorship ✔️ Resume congressionally mandated Resettlement & Placement Services for Afghan refugees and SIV recipients, ensuring they are not evicted or left without essential resources. ✔️ Reopen the USRAP Private Sponsorship program (Welcome Corps) to support veterans and private sponsors working with Afghan allies. ✔️ Ensure CARE (Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts) remains fully funded and operational, as authorized by Congress. The solutions are clear, achievable, and easy to implement. For those who risked everything for us, we owe them safety and dignity. It’s time for action. Let’s urge President Trump and Secretary Rubio to lead on remedying what we assume was an unintended impact.

This week, the new Trump Administration paused almost all (not military support to Israel, Egypt or emergency food) aid funding from USAID funding. We have heard reports of staff furloughed, and utter chaos from local organizations. Then today they, walked it back a bit. Linked below, the official communcation: Emergency Humanitarian Waiver to Foreign Assistance Pause “Implementers of existing life-saving humanitarian assistance programs should continue or resume work if they have stopped..." Things excluded from the waiver (i.e. things still halted) are: "abortions, family planning...gender or DEI ideology programs, transgender surgeries, or other non-life saving assistance." There are additional limits on "Migration and Refugee Assistance" https://lnkd.in/eUmPvAqj

The U.S. made a promise to our Afghan allies—those who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. servicemembers during two decades of conflict. That promise is now at risk. Two recent executive orders from the Trump Administration could leave thousands of Afghan allies and their families in limbo: 1️⃣ "Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program" pauses refugee processing starting January 27. While it’s unlikely to impact SIVs, it freezes all refugee cases not explicitly prioritized. 2️⃣ "Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats" reinstates strict vetting standards and could create barriers even for SIV applicants. What this means: - Afghan refugees ready for resettlement will be pulled off flights beginning January 27. - SIV holders may face additional challenges under stricter vetting rules. - Families of U.S. servicemembers will remain separated, some for over three years. - U.S. credibility with allies is at stake. We urgently need clarity from the administration on how these orders will be implemented. Afghan allies who risked everything for us deserve certainty, not fear. We’ve sent a letter signed by 737 individuals, including 424 veterans and frontline civilians, urging the administration to exempt Afghan allies. It’s time for action. Let’s stand by those who stood by us. #AfghanEvac

It was an honour to give a DISC training to the Chiefs of Mission of the UN International Organisation for Migrants, #IOM, people who are doing such meaningful work. If you've ever found yourself out of a job or experienced other unexpected shocks, you may have felt the pain of instability. But imagine being driven out of your home and land with nowhere to go and no prospects. How grateful you might be to find a hand reaching out to help you. The IOM is one such organisation. They work with migrants, ie. people who have been displaced and/or are returning to the places they had to abandon. The chiefs of missions on this course worked with migrants in South America, Europe and Africa. When I heard that the IOM team in Mozambique consisted of 900 people, I was floored. How many displaced people could there be in a country to need 900 people to help them? What is your guess? I looked up the history (you may already know this of course). Mozambique was a country rich in natural resources but rife with conflict. There were already internal conflicts when in 2011 gas was discovered in Cabo Delgado. Energy companies moved in quickly, displacing hundreds of families. The unrest made it a breeding ground for extremism. In 2017 Jihadist Shabbab fighters began attacking companies and civilians alike. Villages were burnt, people were beheaded and thousands fled for safety. (I struggle deeply with the fact that humans can be convinced that carrying out atrocious acts of violence will ensure them a place in heaven. But I digress). At the height of the conflict in 2021 A MILLION people had been displaced and thousands killed. Since then government forces have gradually contained the extremists, and hundreds of thousands of displaced migrants are now seeking to return to their villages. I understand now that the outstretched hands of 900 IOM personnel are nowhere near enough to provide the needed help. Back in the land of 'DISC your way to Effective Leadership' I was touched by the honesty of the IOM Chiefs of Mission as we explored their strengths, weaknesses, communication preferences and time management styles, and the effectiveness thereof in working with the styles of the team members they were leading. Humans are complicated beings and while no method will map accurately onto any one person, I find it enlightening to start a journey of discovery within a team based on the results of their #DISC personality profiling tests. In a safe environment (and yes I know that it takes an amazing leader to create that), team members can be made aware of each other's natural tendencies so they can communicate and cooperate in a way that draws on the strengths and provides support for the weaknesses of individual members. I am grateful to Ramin Kaweh and Julie Charef at #NexusConsulting for the opportunity to engage with IOM. They are both delightful to work with! #Leadership #Communication #TeamBuilding

A few thoughts on my time spent so far working as an Associate Reporting Officer for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Kyiv. Please have a read if you're interested!