Security Alert: Afghanistan, U.S. Citizens Should Leave Afghanistan Immediately

Location: Throughout Afghanistan

The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to leave Afghanistan immediately using available commercial flight options. If you cannot afford to purchase an airline ticket at this time, please contact the U.S. Embassy at KabulACS@state.gov for information regarding a repatriation loan. If you are a U.S. citizen and delaying your departure while you await an immigrant visa for a spouse or minor child, please contact us immediately. Given the security conditions and reduced staffing, the Embassy’s ability to assist U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is extremely limited even within Kabul. Please review, “What the Department of State Can and Can’t Do in a Crisis.”

The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens that on April 27, 2021, the Department of State ordered the departure from U.S. Embassy Kabul of U.S. government employees whose functions can be performed elsewhere due to increasing violence and threat reports in Kabul. The Travel Advisory for Afghanistan remains Level 4-Do Not Travel due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict, and COVID-19. Domestic flights and ground transportation routes outside of Kabul are severely limited and subject to cancellation or closure.

U.S. citizens should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates and ensure the Embassy can contact you in an emergency. In the event of a future official evacuation flight, the Embassy would notify U.S. citizens enrolled in STEP of available assistance. However, the Embassy reiterates that U.S. citizens should leave Afghanistan as soon as possible using available commercial transportation and not plan to rely on U.S. government flights.

Information about current travel restrictions world-wide can be found on the International Air Transport Association website.

Actions to take:

Consider leaving Afghanistan via the earliest available commercial transportation.

Develop a plan of action that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.

Understand what the Department of State Can and Can’t Do in a Crisis.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates and ensure you can be located in an emergency.

If your U.S. passport expired on or before December 31, 2019, please see our website for information on how to renew your passport before traveling.

https://www.osac.gov/Content/Report/6729d665-d43c-4949-ac84-1c4cfc482d58

https://af.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-and-travel-information/

https://twitter.com/Luka_Duvnjak/status/1423631048278253570?s=20

https://twitter.com/Luka_Duvnjak/status/1424314559205105666?s=20

https://twitter.com/Luka_Duvnjak/status/1423633957191667717?s=20

>>82132

WA K-12 education

WA Superintendent of Public Instruction wants ultimatum for all school employees: get vaccinated or lose job

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 12, 2021

Excerpt

Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal urged Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday to issue an executive order requiring all employees in public K-12 schools to get vaccinations against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

“With the continued increase in cases of COVID-19 across our state due to the highly contagious Delta variant, students losing precious time learning in-person with their educators and peers because of quarantine or, potentially, school building closures is a real threat,” Reykdal said in a letter released Thursday afternoon.

Reykdal’s request comes a few hours after the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers’ union, endorsed vaccine requirements for school workers.

On Wednesday, California Gov. Newsom announced that teachers and other school employees must either be vaccinated against Covid-19 or submit to regular testing.

Reykdal’s request goes a step further, asking Inslee to include the fact that any school employee who chooses not to receive their vaccination by the specified date will be subject to non-disciplinary dismissal from employment.

Reykdal also urged Inslee to move quickly.

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/aug/12/reykdal-wants-ultimatum-for-all-school-employees-g/