Over this past weekend, Afghanistan fell under the control of the Taliban. The Washington Post publisher is now urging the White House to supervise a safe evacuation of more than 200 journalists, support staff, and their families from the country.
“Urgent request on behalf of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post is to have our 204 journalists, support staff and families transported by U.S. Military from the civilian side of the Kabul airport to the military side of the airport where they can be safe as they await evacuation flights,” Fred Ryan wrote to national security adviser Jake Sullivan in an email obtained by The Hill.
President Joe Biden stated the U.S. plans to send an additional 1,000 troops to Afghanistan to help remove U.S. personnel after the Taliban’s takeover of the country.
In an anonymous op-ed published, one Afghan journalist who worked with American-based media outlets provided details on what’s occurring in Kabul. The journalist wrote that he and his family remain in hiding while describing the capital city as a site where “fearful citizens” are “shocked by the sudden turn of events.”
“Afghan journalists are able to broadcast, but not as much as they normally do. Many media outlets were out; even now, not all of them work. People have run to their houses; they’re staying in their houses,” the journalist wrote. “I’ve left my destiny to the Almighty. Because I can no longer trust anybody.”
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
