WATCH: President Biden to Address Bid to Evacuate Americans Trapped in Afghanistan

By  //  August 20, 2021

ABOVE VIDEO: President Biden to Address Bid to Evacuate Americans Trapped in Afghanistan.

(FOX NEWS) – President Biden on Friday will address the bid to evacuate American citizens and Afghan allies from Afghanistan in the face of the Taliban takeover of the country, as Biden faces a torrent of criticism for his handling of the U.S. withdrawal.

Officials said Friday that they have so far evacuated about 12,700 people from the country since the Taliban pressed toward Kabul, sparking chaotic scenes at the capital’s airports as nationals and Americans made desperate bids to board planes out of the besieged country.

Those looking to get out amid fears of reprisals have faced Taliban checkpoints, as well as a sluggish effort to get people out. The Pentagon said 5,700 people have been evacuated from Kabul aboard 16 Air Force C-17s over the last 24 hours. That’s 356 per flight, just over maximum capacity on the aircraft and a significant increase over the day before when flights were departing nearly half empty.

The State Department had said Thursday that 6,000 people are processed and ready for evacuation at Kabul airport but acknowledged that there was “congestion” around the airports and reports of Americans unable to get there.

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