Since august 14th. They solved problem after problem to keep the mission moving forward. They did this because for the thousands of State Department and u. S. Aid employees who served in afghanistan for the past 20 years this Evacuation Operation was very personal. Many worked Hand In hand for years with afghan partners. Many of whom became trusted friends. We also lost cherished members of our foreign Service Community in afghanistan. Well never forget them. Helping americans our foreign partners who have been by our side for 20 years and afghans at risk at this critical moment was more than just a high Stakes Assignment for our team. It was a sacred duty. And the world saw how our diplomats rose to the challenge with determination and heart. U. S. Service members in kabul did heroic work securing the airport, protecting civilians of many nationalities including Tens Of Thousands of afghans and Air Lifting them out. They also providing vital support right now caring for afghans on Mil
Repeatedly making 55,000 phone calls, sending 33,000 emails since august 14th. They solved problem after problem to keep the mission moving forward. They did this because this Evacuation Operation was very personal. Many worked Hand In hand for years with afghan partners. Many of whom became trust friends. We also lost Church Members of our foreign Service Community in afghanistan. Well never forget them. Helping americans, our foreign partners who have been by our side for 20 years and afghans at risk at this critical moment was more than just a high Stakes Assignment for our team. It was a sacred duty. The world saw how our diplomats rose the the challenge. U. S. Service members in kabul did heroic work. They are also providing vital support right now caring for afghans on Military Bases in europe, The Middle East and here in the united states. We have seen pictures of u. S. Service members cradling baby, comforting families. Thats the kind of Compassion And Courage our men and women
Force here in washington overseen by Deputy Secretary. And they built a list of americans, possibly seeking to leave afghanistan then worked to contact every single one of them repeatedly. Making 50,000 calls sending 33,000 E Mails since august 1a. They solved problem after problem to keep the mission moving forward. They did this because for thousands in the State Department and usaid employees who served in afghanistan over the past 30 years this Evacuation Operation was very personal. Many Work Hand in hand for years with afghan partners with that many who became a trusted friends. We also lost cherished members of ourforeign we also lost cherished members of our foreign Service Community of ourforeign Service Community in afghanistan, we will neverforget them. Community in afghanistan, we will never forget them. Helping americans, ourforeign partners americans, our foreign partners who americans, ourforeign partners who have been by our side for 20 years and afghans at risk at this
Readily identified by all sorts of people that you guys are willing to take responsibility for yourselves . Thanks. Let my say two things. First, with regards to the numbers, as youve seen by how i laid out how we get to the numbers of americans, this is both incredibly complicated and incredibly fluid. Any number i give you right now is likely to be out of date by the time we leave the briefing room. So what were doing is very carefully tabulating everything we have, cross checking it, using different databases. Well have numbers for the different categories in the days ahead and after this initial phase of efforts so bring people out of afghanistan. With regard to the second part of your question about taking responsibility. I take responsibility. I know the president has said he takes responsibility. I know all of my colleagues across government feel the same way. I can tell you that there will be plenty of time to look back at the last six or seven months, to look back at the last
The largest number so far of people evacuated from the airport in kabul in a 24hour period. Its a really big number. 10,400 people. 10,400 air lifted out of kabul on sunday by u. S. Military aircraft. Now that again is a big number. It will have to continue to meet the clear need that is there. And it has been complicated by a whole slue of other developments. The airport, the scene of a deadly firefight overnight, involving u. S. , german and afghan forces. Afghan guard helping secure the base was killed by some kind of fire. Unclear whether it was Opponent Fire or friendly fire. No americans were injured in that attack. After president biden said he is considering extending the afghan Withdrawal Deadline now, new this morning, a taliban spokesman tells cnn that all u. S. Forces must leave afghanistan by The End of the month. They dont want to see any extension. Thats raising questions about whether afghan allyies, people who helped u. S. Troops over the course of the war, are going t