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Ned Price, spokesman for the US Department of State, is currently giving an update on the situation in Afghanistan.

He said that the US is continuing to deploy additional consular officers to help evacuate people, including sending teams to Qatar and Kuwait.

Price added that there are currently 6,000 people at Kabul airport that have been fully processed and are waiting to board planes out of the country. Some 20 flights are set to leave on Thursday evening.

He said that the US has "significantly expanded" how many American citizens, locally employed staff and special immigrant visa applications are eligible to leave Afghanistan.

Asked about those unable to reach the airport, Price said the state department had seen reports of "congestion" getting to the airport.

"We are doing everything we can," he said, adding that the US has made it clear to the Taliban that "safe passage should be guaranteed for all of those who wish to transit to the airport".