Summary

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn on Wednesday released a proposal that, if passed, would task King County with providing critical support to local veterans and other groups still desperately working to evacuate American citizens and Afghan allies from Afghanistan following the U.S. military withdrawal.

Story

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn on Wednesday released a proposal that, if passed, would task King County with providing critical support to local veterans and other groups still desperately working to evacuate American citizens and Afghan allies from Afghanistan following the U.S. military withdrawal. 

***Editors: please note that we can provide names of local groups available to talk with media about their evacuation efforts and will provide contact info upon request.***

“Given the extreme urgency of the situation in Afghanistan, King County should do everything we can to assist our veterans who are working locally in the Seattle area to evacuate U.S. citizens and our Afghan friends who are desperate to flee the country,” Dunn said. “This is an opportunity to provide whatever help we are able, such as grants or other assistance, to local community groups who already have their boots on the ground helping this tragic situation. We want to help our neighbors here in King County leverage their contacts in Afghanistan in real time.”

Hundreds of American citizens remain in Afghanistan, along with thousands of Afghans who have served as allies to U.S. troops and are now facing persecution by the Taliban. In response, veteran networks and groups with contacts in Afghanistan have launched initiatives to move them out of the country. 

Dunn’s proposal to support organizations heading up evacuation efforts is an amendment to his pending legislation that would direct County resources to help Afghan refugees resettle in Washington. With this additional component, the legislation would provide funding to organizations that are working to get citizens and allies out of Afghanistan and settled in King County. The motion will be referred to the Council’s Committee of the Whole.