An American mother in Afghanistan made an emotional plea to President Joe Biden to help her get back to the United States where her two children are located following White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki’s claim that Americans are not stranded.
During an interview with Fox News Tuesday, a woman, who goes by the pseudonym “Fatima,” detailed her experience on the ground in Afghanistan.
“I have made several attempts to go to the airport,” Fatima said.
She confirmed there are Americans “stranded” in the country, adding, “We can’t get to the airport. When we try to get to the airport, we either get beaten up or we are afraid for our lives.”
Fatima described how the Taliban are going door-to-door looking for people who have worked with the U.S. government.
“Our lives are in extreme danger and I don’t know how long it’s going to continue. They’re going to peoples’ homes at night and they’re just taking them away and nobody knows where they’re taking them, what they’re doing to them. We are scared,” Fatima explained.
Watch her comments below:
Fatima was questioned about comments made by Psaki during a press briefing Monday, suggesting it is “irresponsible to say Americans are stranded.”
The mother said she would like the Biden administration to “do whatever it takes to get U.S. nationals out and people that worked with the U.S. military.”
She told the network they receive “more of news to stay put than to be told that you’re going to be evacuated,” continuing, “This is not comforting at all because we don’t know if we’re going to make it out.”
Opening up about the conversations she has had with her daughter, Fatima said, “My daughter thinks that the Taliban are going to behead me.”
Speaking through tears, Fatima pleaded with Biden, “Mr. President, please help us.”
Fatima continued, “Imagine being stranded in the situation like this and not receiving anything for three, four days from the U.S. embassy or the State Department.”
Psaki took to Twitter on Tuesday to clarify her remarks.
“Addl context on American citizens of what I said: ‘We are committed to bringing Americans, who want to come home, home. We are in touch with them via phone, via text, via e-mail, via any way that we can possibly reach Americans to get them home if they want to return home…'” Psaki wrote.
…we are not leaving Americans who want to return home. We are going to bring them home. And I think that’s important for the American public to hear and understand."
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) August 24, 2021
She added, “…we are not leaving Americans who want to return home. We are going to bring them home. And I think that’s important for the American public to hear and understand.”