Dear Friends and Colleagues,
After witnessing the fall of the Afghan government, many of you have reached out and expressed an interest in finding ways to support Afghans during this difficult time. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
Lina and I have put together this document as a response to this generous outpouring of concern. It will be updated as appropriate, and the goal is to share vetted resources that give you a variety of meaningful ways to get involved.
We’ve organized it along the refugee journey - helping people get out, helping them once they arrive, helping them over the longer term as they acclimate to the U.S., and finally ways to help Afghans who can not get out. Places to donate money are highlighted in green.
Feel free to reach out directly to me at ali@nazars.net if you want to discuss any of these options, and if you are interested in making a bigger monetary donation I am happy to connect you to a well-placed friend in the Afghan non-profit community that can help you strategize on the best way to make an impact.
HELPING GET PEOPLE OUT OF AFGHANISTAN
The pre-August 31st rush to the airport was a scary site and demonstrated the depths of terror that the Taliban strike in many Afghans. Now that the initial rush is over, the Taliban control who comes and goes and they have said that they will let people with proper documentation leave the country. We will see.
If you are interested in helping to get people out of Afghanistan, some Bay Area legal organizations have created a way for volunteers to help sponsor at-risk Afghans via something called humanitarian parole.
Here is Pangea legal services Afghan resources page, which explains what this is and how you can get involved.
HELPING AFGHANS WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN THE U.S.
Housing is a critical issue for newcomers, and since many Afghans come to the Bay Area it is extra-difficult given the existing housing affordability crisis here.
New Anchor is a non-profit organization that specializes in finding hosts who are willing to house new arrivals for a period of time as ‘transitional’ housing. If you have an unused ADU or in-law unit that you’d like to host an Afghan family in, please sign up with them to learn more.
Also, both East Bay branches of refugee resettlement agencies International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) are maintaining Amazon wish lists for needed supplies.
Here is IRC’s list, and here is JFCS’s list.
City of Fremont has also started a fund to help newcomers.
And for any lawyers out there who want to help, Human Rights First is looking for lawyers to assist newly arriving Afghans on a whole host of issues.
HELPING AFGHANS ADJUST TO LIFE IN AMERICA
Having a job is critical to surviving in America. Upwardly Global is an awesome non-profit that has helped many Afghan immigrants find work in the U.S. Here is their page for Afghans - there are many ways to get involved.
In the East Bay, both Refugees & Immigrant Transitions (RIT, where Lina works) and Burma Refugee Family & Newcomers (BRFN) provide many different ongoing services like English lessons, childcare, wellness services and case management to help refugees adjust to life in America. These providers are in many ways the safety net for these refugees, as the big resettlement agencies like IRC and JFCS primarily focus on the first 90 days or so (but the refugees are here for good).
HELPING THOSE WHO CANNOT LEAVE AFGHANISTAN
The situation is fluid, but we know women’s rights will be a key litmus test in determining whether or not the Taliban have truly changed. The Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) (in Afghanistan), Enabled Children Initiative (supports children with disabilities in Afghanistan) and Women for Afghan Women (in Afghanistan but based in NYC) are organizations we have supported that will put dollars donated to good use.
And, we know from the last time the Taliban ruled that Afghanistan is now at risk of becoming an international haven for terrorists and extremism. The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan is fighting against the Taliban in support of a multi-cultural, inclusive Afghanistan that supports women’s rights. Their leader, Ahmad Massoud, in Panjshir Valley, is the son of the famed mujahedeen commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, and they have a U.S. fundraising arm that you can give to here.
There are many articles about Ahmad Massoud and Panjshir. Here is one for from NPR.
Massoud’s most recent message to the international community, under intense fighting in Panjshir, is dire, reporting of Taliban entering the valley and killing civilians and resistance fighters alike. Almost all media and communication has been cut off as of 9/7/21. Another way to help Afghanistan is to spread awareness about this resistance, Massoud and Panjshir.
You can also text “GO ADVOCATE4AFG” to 50409, to demand action from Congress.
Thank you.