Biden administration sends 3.3million vaccine doses to Afghanistan and says they are still 'committed' to supporting government with the Taliban surging and Pentagon warning of a 'deteriorating situation'
The U.S. sent 1.4 million doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine to Afghanistan even as the Taliban continues to take over rural parts of the country with a final U.S. troop withdrawal set to be completed within weeks.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted out images of the arriving vaccine doses, which will total 3.3 million doses, amid a surge of coronavirus cases in the long-struggling country.
He termed it part of the '#EnduringPartnership' between the two nations and a demonstration of 'continuing support,' even as the U.S. prepares to pull out remaining troops amid an aversion to what President Biden on Wednesday referred to as 'nation building.'
The first shipment of 1.4 million Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine doses arrives at the Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Friday, July 9, 2021. The delivery comes as the U.S. is withdrawing remaining forces from the country after a two decade war, and the Taliban is claiming significant territorial gains
'As part of U.S. commitment to help lead the global fight against COVID-19, we are delivering 3.3 M doses of J&J vaccines to Afghanistan. We are committed to continuing support for Afghanistan, including promoting the security and health of the Afghan people,' Blinken said.
Taliban insurgents claim to have taken over 85 per cent of the country, although Afghan officials said the true amount of territory they control is far lower.
Nevertheless, Taliban forces have seized control of a number of districts amid the U.S. drawdown.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted out images of the arrival of vaccines
President Joe Biden speaks about the American troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Washington
A smoke plume rises from houses amid ongoing fight between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters in the western city of Qala-i- Naw, the capital of Badghis province, on July 7, 2021 - The Taliban launched a major assault on a provincial capital in Afghanistan on July 7
Afghan commando forces gather together in Kunduz, Afghanistan July 7, 2021 in this still image taken from a video
Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted out images of the arriving vaccine doses
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told CNN Friday: 'What we have seen is a deteriorating security situation on the ground, no questions about that, that the Taliban continues to take district centers'
He said he was 'not in a position to quantify or validate what their assessment is' with respect to the Taliban's claims of seizing territory.
President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the U.S. would continue to provide support to the Afghan government, and rejected the idea that Taliban victory was assured.
'There’s not a conclusion that, in fact, they cannot defeat the Taliban,' Biden said.
UNICEF said in a statement that the 1.4 million U.S.-donated doses had arrived, the first of two shipments.
A second shipment of vaccines donated by the United States through the COVAX global sharing program will bring the total to 3.3 million doses, UNICEF said. The U.S. vaccine donations come as U.S. military forces withdraw from Afghanistan, ending a 20-year war in the country.
The deliveries are part of President Joe Biden's pledge to share 80 million vaccine doses globally, most through COVAX, which is run by the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
'These vaccines arrive at a critical time for Afghanistan as the country faces a difficult surge in COVID-19 infections,' said UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, Hervé Ludovic De Lys.
Over 1,200 new infections were reported in Afghanistan on July 8th down from a record peak of 1,853 new cases on June 21st, according to the Reuters COVID-19 tracker. Less than four percent of the Afghan population is vaccinated, UNICEF said.
'As many countries face vaccine supply challenges, the dose-sharing mechanism is a rapid way to close the immediate supply gap,' De Lys said. 'I hope that other governments will step up and share their doses, supplies and therapeutics to protect those most in need.'