ten to 50 and doubling the number of sib in ten to 50 and doubling the number of sib in kabul. even as many embassy personnel sib in kabul. even as many embassy personnel returned to the united states personnel returned to the united states we sent more council officers to kabut states we sent more council officers to kabul to states we sent more council officers to kabul to process sib applications. as a result of these and other applications. as a result of these and other steps including working with congress by may we had reduced the average processing time for special the average processing time for special immigrant visas by more than a year~ special immigrant visas by more than a year~ even special immigrant visas by more than a year. even amid a covid search with a year. even amid a covid search with in a year. even amid a covid search with in kabul injune we continue to issue with in kabul injune we continue to issue the with in kabul injune we continue to is
some put up some served as transit hubs, some welcoming evacuees for longer periods some welcoming evacuees for longer periods of some welcoming evacuees for longer periods of time. and i want to recognise periods of time. and i want to recognise the extraordinary efforts by congress as well. to name just a few examples, congressman fitzpatrick worked with the state department to reunite an afghan family department to reunite an afghan family in department to reunite an afghan family in newjersey. commerce do not congressman keating work with our folks not congressman keating work with our folks on the ground to help a reporter our folks on the ground to help a reporter and his family get to the airport reporter and his family get to the airport. congresswomanjacobson and airport. congresswoman jacobson and congressman airport. congresswomanjacobson and congressman agnes at work across party congressman agnes at work across party lines congressman agnes at work across
remained kabul would collapse while us forces remained. as the chair of the joint chief remained. as the chair of the joint chief of remained. as the chair of the joint chief of staff has said, nothing i or anyone chief of staff has said, nothing i or anyone else saw indicated a collapse or anyone else saw indicated a collapse of this army and this government in 11 days. nonetheless, we planned government in 11 days. nonetheless, we planned and exercise a wide range of contingencies. because of the plan we of contingencies. because of the plan we were able to draw down our embassy plan we were able to draw down our embassy and move our remaining personnel embassy and move our remaining personnel to the airport within 48 hours personnel to the airport within 48 hours in personnel to the airport within 48 hours. in the military placed on standby hours. in the military placed on standby by president biden was able to secure standby by president biden was able to secur
many affairs are hard at work kabul. many key affairs are hard at work kabul. many key partners have joined us there many key partners have joined us there was many key partners have joined us there was up second, we are continuing our relentless efforts to help any continuing our relentless efforts to help any remaining americans as well as afghans help any remaining americans as well as afghans and citizens of allied partner as afghans and citizens of allied partner countries leave afghanistan if they partner countries leave afghanistan if they so partner countries leave afghanistan if they so choose. this past thursday if they so choose. this past thursday qatar chief charter flight with us thursday qatar chief charter flight with us citizens to depart kabul and waited with us citizens to depart kabul and waited into her. on friday a second us flight waited into her. on friday a second us flight carrying citizens and others us flight carrying citizens and o
hungry from the political situation and whatever happens to be in power at the time. the un high commissioner for refugees has gone to afghanistan to assess the crisis. filippo grandi tweeted that he will assess the country s acute humanitarian needs and the situation of 3.5 million displaced afghans. he also posted this photo of him being met by taliban officials as he arrived in kabul. we know he s had meetings with the taliban s interim government. and he s been speaking to the bbc. i heard good commitments to protecting humanitarian operations and ensuring access to all of those in need, this is very important. and it is important to engage with the taliban leadership, both centrally and in provinces, i m trying to go to in a couple of days because it is