The United States is set to extend the operation of the Al-Siliyah camp in Qatar for another nine months, where 1,399 Afghan refugees are currently awaiting resettlement.
US officials said the extension will allow authorities more time to find countries willing to accept the Afghans, whose future remains uncertain. The facility had been scheduled to close on October 29.
Many of those staying at the camp previously worked with US forces between 2001 and 2021, including translators and other personnel. Some residents are also family members of American soldiers.
More than 70 percent of the camp’s residents are women and children, according to figures from an Afghan aid organization.
The US State Department has said efforts will continue to find a solution for the residents, including voluntary transfers to other countries during the additional nine-month period. US officials have also held discussions with several countries about possible resettlement arrangements.
The Democratic Republic of Congo was previously considered as one possible destination for some of the Afghans.
The extension, however, does not guarantee their transfer to the United States. The administration of President Donald Trump suspended the Afghan refugee resettlement program launched under the previous administration and continues restrictions affecting Afghan travel to the United States.
An Afghan evacuation advocacy group said only five Afghans had entered the United States through refugee admission programs since October 2025.
Advocates have welcomed the extension as temporary relief but have called for a permanent solution. They have also warned that returning some camp residents to Afghanistan could expose them to security risks because of their previous work with US forces.