The troop departures signaled a tumultuous end to a 20-year war that has left the country awash in grief and desperation, with many Afghans fearing for their lives under Taliban rule and struggling with cash shortages and rising food prices.

The NEC’s population is projected to grow by more than 12 million residents by 2040, yet the region is straining under antiquated transportation systems.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced Tuesday that he and his husband, Chasten, have become parents.