The State Department is refusing to transport Americans stranded in Kabul to the airport and instead is telling them to make their own way there, past the Taliban

According to the state officials, there are thousands of US citizens stranded in Afghanistan awaiting evacuation flights home.

Officials say that this number includes American journalists, contractors, NGO workers, diplomats and government staff.

They remain in Kabul, which the Taliban took control of on Sunday.

White House Press Secretary Psaki says that this number is at least 11,000, but others say it may be as high as 40,000.

On Tuesday, the State Department started sending notifications to stranded Americans telling them to get to the airport but that they couldn’t ensure their safety.

Image Source

The below note went out this afternoon to American citizens requesting to be evacuated from Afghanistan, @alanacbs reports. It instructs people to come to Hamid Karzai Intl Airport in Kabul, but says the US govt cannot guarantee their safety as they make the trip. @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/rgEyjGup4K

— Sara Cook (@saraecook) August 17, 2021