Biden appoints veteran diplomat to oversee Afghan resettlement efforts

The Biden administration on Tuesday appointed veteran ambassador Elizabeth Jones to lead the U.S. government’s efforts in relocating and resettling Afghan refugees.

Jones is replacing Ambassador John Bass, who previously was in charge of the relocation efforts within Kabul the State Department announced. 

Jones previously served as the ambassador to Kazakhstan, as well as a special representative to both Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement that Jones “will assume oversight of the entire Afghanistan relocation effort, from our ongoing efforts to facilitate the departure of individuals from Afghanistan to their onward relocation and resettlement from the United States.”

The U.S. has selected eight military bases that can house some 50,000 Afghan refugees.  

According to the State Department, Jones has been serving as a diplomat for more than 35 years in various positions across the globe.