By Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Stacia George hired buses to take hundreds of Afghans, including many who worked for the U.S. government, to the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif after the Taliban seized Kabul. They were to be flown to their new homes in Afghanistan by charter planes.

A month later, the ex-U.S. government assistance official claimed that some 300 are still stranded due to the Taliban’s restriction on charter flights. They also restrict foreign nationals from leaving Afghanistan and Afghans with permission from other countries.

George claimed that delays caused by the lack of U.S. security procedures to vet Afghans who are seeking asylum are also contributing to her loss of several tens of thousand dollars per day.

George said, “Money that we used to purchase seats on a flight is now going towards housing and food.” Every hour is money.

Afghanistan Transit Initiative (which claims to have raised $1.4million of the $10 million target) isn’t the only group that worries about funding.

Other non-profit organizations supporting vulnerable Afghans who are seeking to flee Taliban rule are also experiencing financial concerns. There are reports that Islamist militants have been conducting house searches and reprisal killings.

Joy Shanaberger (the group’s fundraising director) said that Human First Coalition organizers, which are former military personnel and ex-officials from the United States, have added $6 million to their own retirement accounts through 401k plans.

Shanaberger stated that the group has a weekly burn rate of $2 million. We still have 10,000 people under our care, and there are many others on the waiting list.

HELPING THOSE IN HIDING

The non-profit groups emerged from ad hoc networks formed by current and former U.S. officials, veterans and others to bolster what they saw as a shambolic U.S. rescue operation that ended the 20-year U.S.-led war in Afghanistan in August.

These groups run on-the ground networks providing shelter, food, medical and other assistance to Afghans who have not been evacuated.

Many of the Afghans cared for are currently hiding. Many of them are homeless and have no means to afford rent, healthcare, or food. This has led to a rise in the cost of such services, which is exacerbated by droughts and other shortages.

Zac Lois (retired U.S. military captain) oversees Task Force Pineapple operations. This is the biggest volunteer evacuation group.

However, donations are declining “because the focus shifts with the news cycle,” he explained. We’re burning capital at an exorbitant pace.”

Lois stated that if the funding runs out, the “question is what we do now since we are committed our friends.” “You can’t let people go.”

Because the Taliban are cash poor, organizers refused to divulge how their money goes to their networks. However, the organizers said they strictly adhere to U.S. law, and sought humanitarian licenses at the U.S. Treasury so as not to fall foul of U.S. Sanctions against Islamists.

They claim that there are thousands of Afghans who need to be evacuated. These include about 20,000 people who were employed by the U.S. government, and who applied for U.S. Special Immigration Visas. This group could be joined by their families, which would total around 90,000.

‘GOOD INTENTIONS’

Group organizers are in regular contact with the U.S. government, which they said should take over funding private charter flights and negotiate landing rights in countries where evacuees could wait while their applications for U.S. visas or humanitarian parole into the United States are processed.

Jesse Jensen is a former U.S. Army Ranger who organized Task Force Argo to help Afghans and Americans fleeing war zones. We can’t keep doing this forever.

American President Joe Biden has been working with the administration to organize evacuations for all green card holders, U.S. citizens and SIV holders as well as their families. Private charter flight costs have not been covered by the administration, according to the private groups.

The spokesperson from the State Department stated that, despite their “good intentions”, every flight chartered in Kabul during and following the U.S. 17-day evacuation operation was plagued by issues. This included unaccompanied minors as well passengers who were not issued passports or had falsified papers.

According to the spokesperson, “Because we have seen the security issues and the complications that these charter flights present, we will be evaluating how best to support these private organizations.”

Private organizers deny that their manifests do not have proper vetting.

Lois from Task Force Pineapple said that most of the people on their manifests are “people we’ve served with.”

Alex Plitsas of Human First Coalition, however, said that the State Department was understandable because “a lot” have called private evacuation groups.