Welcoming the Release of Mark Frerichs After more than two years in captivity, U.S. Navy veteran Mark Frerichs is safe and on his way home from Afghanistan. I am grateful to our State Department team and to our broader national security professionals as well as to our partners in Qatar. Mark’s return to his loved ... Read More»

Today, we have secured the release of Mark Frerichs, and he will soon be home.  Mark was taken in Afghanistan in January, 2020 and held for 31 months.  His release is the culmination of years of tireless work by dedicated public servants across our government and other partner governments, and I want to thank them for all that ... Read More»

Today, the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announced a $30 million commitment to support gender equality and women’s empowerment in Afghanistan. This funding will be programmed through the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). The “Enabling Essential Services for Afghan Women and Girls” ... Read More»

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) signed a $40 million agreement to increase international support for Afghan children, particularly adolescent girls, to realize their right to education. This is USAID’s newest contribution to Afghanistan’s education sectors and comes after the Taliban’s March announcement blocking girls above grade ... Read More»