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Reuters
Reuters
Politics

First group of Afghan refugees arrives in Kosovo for temporary shelter

People who have been evacuated from Afghanistan arrive at Pristina International Airport in Pristina, Kosovo August 29, 2021, after Taliban insurgents entered Afghanistan's capital Kabul. REUTERS/Laura Hasani

The first group of Afghan refugees arrived in Kosovo on Sunday, which has agreed to temporarily shelter them until they can be permanently relocated to the United States.

The plane carried 111 people, mainly women and children, who could be seen walking on the tarmac carrying small bags.

Passengers had their temperatures checked upon arrival and will be taken to a camp that previously housed construction workers near Camp Bondsteel, a U.S. Army base about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Pristina.

People who have been evacuated from Afghanistan arrive at Pristina International Airport in Pristina, Kosovo August 29, 2021, after Taliban insurgents entered Afghanistan's capital Kabul. REUTERS/Laura Hasani

More planes are expected to arrive in the coming days, a senior government official told Reuters.

Kosovo had agreed to accept 2,000 Afghans in transit to the United States.

"We are proud to stand with our allies," Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani told reporters.

People who have been evacuated from Afghanistan arrive at Pristina International Airport in Pristina, Kosovo August 29, 2021, after Taliban insurgents entered Afghanistan's capital Kabul. REUTERS/Florion Goga

Albania and North Macedonia, both NATO members, have also agreed to a proposal by U.S. President Joe Biden's administration to serve as transit countries for Afghan refugees whose final destination is the United States.

(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Writing by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

People who have been evacuated from Afghanistan arrive at Pristina International Airport in Pristina, Kosovo August 29, 2021, after Taliban insurgents entered Afghanistan's capital Kabul. REUTERS/Laura Hasani
People who have been evacuated from Afghanistan arrive at Pristina International Airport in Pristina, Kosovo August 29, 2021, after Taliban insurgents entered Afghanistan's capital Kabul. REUTERS/Florion Goga
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