Hundreds of Afghan Refugees Endure Missile Attacks at Doha Camp

Hundreds of Afghan refugees, mostly women and children, are living in difficult conditions at the Siliyeh base near Doha, Qatar, amid repeated Iranian missile attacks since the start of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran.

Camp residents told ABC News they initially lacked proper shelters during the early weeks of the conflict and had to hide inside buildings. Missile shrapnel fell into bedrooms, including rooms with young children. Residents secretly recorded videos showing harsh living conditions and requested anonymity due to fears of deportation or punishment.

Some refugees were resettled in the United States during the Biden administration, but others remain at the camp. Afghan Evac, an organization aiding Afghan refugees, said about 800 residents had prior approval for U.S. resettlement that was halted after the Trump administration took power.

About four weeks after the war began, the camp installed concrete walls at building entrances and exits, with workers instructing residents to seek shelter upon hearing sirens. The U.S. State Department said it is addressing residents' concerns and plans to relocate the camp's population to a third country by the end of March.

A young Afghan mother at the camp said her daughter took her first steps there after more than a year in the facility and that she struggles to provide proper food or toys. Ahmad, a former colleague of U.S. forces in Afghanistan who has lived there for over 18 months with his children, said his son sleeps under the bed out of fear of missiles.

Shaun Vandiver, head of Afghan Evac, stated there is no legal or structural barrier to these individuals entering the United States. The group has urged the U.S. State Department not to leave the refugees in uncertainty.