At least 29 students stranded in Afghanistan are believed to be from the Sacramento area of California with three others from Cajon Valley in San Diego. The 29 Californian students come from 19 families and have not returned to school campuses for the 2021-2022 school year, according to the Sacramento-area school district.

       A representative of the school district told Newsweek: "We stand ready to support these students and families in whatever way that we can, and are working closely with state elected officials to provide them information as we receive it from our families.

       "San Juan Unified stands with our Afghan community and all those whose loved ones are currently in Afghanistan.

       "We sincerely hope for their speedy and safe return back to the US and back to our school communities."

       The horrifying situation has been urgently flagged with both the Department of Defense and State Department.

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       The report comes after US troops officially withdrew from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan on August 31 after 20 years in the war-torn region.

       The US-led coalition successfully airlifted 123,000 American citizens, allies and vulnerable Afghans during an 18-day evacuation mission.

       Despite the best efforts of the military, thousands of people eligible for Western help have been abandoned in Afghanistan now that the deadline has passed.

       The airport is no longer operating evacuations in any capacity and stranded civilians have been advised to seek refuge by crossing the border into a neighbouring country.

       The Taliban has set up checkpoints across the country and there are reports of them killing people with an association to the West.

       There is currently no US facilitated safe passage for the American students and their families.

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