As Afghanistan convulses, Catholic groups help refugees in US – Catholic Philly

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Afghan refugees board a bus taking them to a refugee processing center upon arrival at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va., August 25, 2021. (CNS Photo / Kevin Lamarque, Reuters)

WASHINGTON (CNS) – An already tense situation in Afghanistan escalated in early August 26 when an explosion near Kabul airport left casualties and injuries still pending.

According to the Pentagon, at least 13 US servicemen and at least 95 Afghans have been killed; a dozen others were injured.

General Kenneth F. McKenzie, head of the US Central Command, said in an Aug. 26 video new conference, “While we are saddened by the loss of life, both American and Afghan, we continue to execute the mission.” He added that an Islamic State extremist group was behind the attack involving a suicide bomber.

Afghans, US citizens and others eager to leave the country had flocked to Kabul International Airport after a Taliban takeover of the capital in mid-August when the Afghan army collapsed as a result the withdrawal of American troops and subcontractors.

On the other side of the world, the Catholic Church, particularly in the United States, has been “involved in welcoming and settling” those seeking safe refuge, participating in the effort with others. Faith-based aid groups and organizations such as the International Rescue Committee, said Bill Canny, executive director of migration and refugee services for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

While some of those fleeing are US citizens, many are refugees who have no family members in the country nor have been in the US before and have left their lives behind at all times with little beyond what they could carry.

“These are people who have been persecuted in their country and they need new homes, their children have to go to school, they have to find work,” Canny said in an Aug. 25 telephone interview with Catholic. News Service, talking about the terrible situation. situation that is unfolding from minute to minute in Afghanistan.

A girl holding an American flag waits with her parents for Afghan relatives at a treatment center for refugees evacuated from Afghanistan at the Dulles Expo Center near Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia on August 24, 2021 (CNS Photo / Kevin Lamarque, Reuters)

Faith groups, including Catholic organizations, have also called on the Biden administration to speed up the evacuations.

“Our government owes the Afghan people a debt of service, not to mention its moral responsibility to help the women and children of Afghanistan who are now in imminent danger. The Sisters of the Good Shepherd National Advocacy Center calls on President Biden to not only welcome, but to work fervently to bring out those in danger, ”said Fran Eskin-Royer, executive director of the organization, in an August 26 press release. .

Anna Gallagher, executive director of Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc., said on Twitter on August 24 that the Afghans “risked their lives for us, and now we must do all we can to protect theirs.”

The administration of George W. Bush sent troops to Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington, trying to identify the Al-Qaida militants who planned the attack, including Osama bin. Laden, who was said to have been in and out of Afghanistan in hiding with the help of the Taliban.

US troops remained there under previous administrations from both political parties and in October 2020 President Donald Trump tweeted that he would withdraw US troops from Afghanistan by Christmas. Biden continued with the plan but with a different timeline. However, analysts have blamed all previous administrations – from George W. Bush to Biden – with the unfolding drama.

Some Catholics say that what is important is to help those who are affected by it.

“Any policy must remain outside of this decision. They are our brothers and sisters, and we must receive them with great dignity and respect, ”said Gallagher.

President Joe Biden said on Aug. 22 that the military had evacuated 28,000 people since Aug. 14 from Kabul airport and appeared set on a full troop withdrawal on Aug. 31 in what analysts said was to prevent precisely the type of attack that took place on August 31. 26.

McKenzie said at least 1,000 Americans were still in Afghanistan and the United States would do everything possible to get them out, “but not everyone wants to go,” he said.

For its part, the church is helping the Afghans the best it can, as some systems for moving refugees in the United States are “still slow and recovering from the previous administration,” Canny said.

“Over the past month we have started to rebuild the system for more arrivals… since these arrivals could not start, it is a good time to welcome these families being resettled,” said Canny.

The United States has used national military bases to process and house Afghan refugees, including Fort Bliss in El Paso Texas, Camp McCoy in Wisconsin, Fort Lee in Virginia, Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst in New Jersey.

The challenge is that the facilities for these military installations were only recently installed, Canny said.

“We have staff in all of them except Fort Lee. … We want to make sure we do a review of their legal status. They would only be in the facility for a week and receive mental health and wellness help, if they need it make sure they are okay make sure the kids are okay Canny said.

Local news reports from New Mexico also said Holloman Air Force Base was awaiting indications that it was a place to welcome refugees.

Catholic parishes and lay people across the country who wish to help can do so in a number of ways, Canny said.

“The best thing for parishes to do is to contact local Catholic charities that are involved in the national effort,” Canny said. “Call their dioceses and find out what’s going on (locally). Also look at what other churches are doing in an ecumenical (effort) to offer the refugees, the people who are here out of fear for their lives, the best welcome, because they have helped our government. “

People can also donate to Catholic charities as well as organizations listed on the MRS resource page at www.justiceforimmigrants.org/afghanistan. There may also be opportunities for people to open their homes to short-term refugees when they settle in some cities where housing markets are expensive, Canny said.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to help,” Canny said. “We don’t consider ‘we are saving these people,’ who are actually saving us by giving us the opportunity to help. … This is what our church does and it is based on the gospel and it includes the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as they fled to safety.

Families leave a treatment center for evacuees from Afghanistan at the Dulles Expo Center near Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Va., August 25, 2021 (CNS Photo / Jonathan Ernst, Reuters)

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