A suspension of flights for over 40,000 Afghans, who have been approved for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), has been triggered by a 90-day halt on foreign development aid ordered by President Donald Trump.

This freeze is part of a broader review of aid effectiveness and alignment with Trump's 'America First' policy.

The suspension of aid, which impacts US and international operations, has led to interruptions in nutrition, health, vaccination, and other vital programs.

The order also halted funding for organizations assisting Afghans with housing, employment, and education after their relocation to the US.

Shawn VanDiver, head of the AfghanEvac coalition, which advocates for Afghan evacuees, expressed that the flight suspension was likely an unintentional result of the executive order.

VanDiver called for exemptions for SIV holders, emphasizing their significant role in assisting the US during its 20-year involvement in Afghanistan.

He pointed out that many of these individuals had served alongside US forces and were at risk of Taliban retribution.

The US State Department’s actions have stranded thousands of Afghans in visa processing centers in Qatar and Albania, and others waiting in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The UN reports ongoing abuses by the Taliban, who have allegedly detained, tortured, and killed former soldiers and government officials from the US-backed Afghan government.

Although the Taliban has issued a general amnesty, these reports have raised concerns about the safety of those still waiting for relocation.

This flight suspension affects not only those with approved SIVs but also family members of active-duty Afghan American military personnel and unaccompanied children.

In a related move, Trump’s executive order suspends all US refugee resettlement programs, further complicating the resettlement of Afghan refugees.

Since the US’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, nearly 200,000 Afghans have been resettled in the US under the SIV program or as refugees.