PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — While the world observes the one-year anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Philadelphia officials commemorated what might be considered a silver lining of that event: the resettlement of thousands of Afghans through Philadelphia International Airport.
The team that ran Operation Allies Welcome gathered in the mayor’s reception room Monday evening.
About 25,000 Afghans came through Philly International starting in August 2021, where they were greeted with medical attention, halaal food, toys and activities for children.
Mayor Jim Kenney said it was one of the city’s finest hours.
“What I saw was a kind of renewal in what this country is supposed to be about,” he said. “It was like a moment where I consider Philadelphia Ellis Island — it was like this mass of people with nowhere to go, and they came to us and that was wonderful.”
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The mayor was joined by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Julieta Noyes, who praised the city’s warm welcome.
“For those Afghans seeking refuge, Philadelphia will forever be the first image of America,” she said. “You are the people they will remember, and you are the ones who will help them forever have an image of America as a welcoming place.”
Farwa Ahmadi, director of Afghans of Philadelphia, a nonprofit established to provide translation services, echoed Noyes.
“The most amazing thing we encountered during our journey was watching the city and the non-Afghan community coming together to provide immense support to our people,” she said. “There was so much care, sensitivity and genuine empathy.”
City officials said about 800 Afghans permanently resettled in the Philadelphia area. Operation Allies Welcome ended in March.
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