US-bound flights of Afghan evacuees to resume after measles pause

By CNN Newsource

Published October 4, 2021 3:39 PM

By Priscilla Alvarez, CNN

Flights of Afghan evacuees from staging areas abroad will resume this week as part of Operation Allies Welcome, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The announcement comes after flights had been put on pause after cases of measles — a highly contagious virus — were discovered among Afghans. They are expected to resume Tuesday, according to a DHS official.

More than 49,000 Afghan evacuees temporarily staying at military installations in the US have been vaccinated for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and varicella (chickenpox). Evacuees are also receiving vaccinations in Europe and the Middle East.

“The ultimate goal of Operation Allies Welcome is to successfully resettle our Afghan allies into local communities while prioritizing national security and public health,” said Robert Fenton, , senior response official for Operation Allies Welcome.

This story is breaking and will be updated.