Edmonton community groups prepare to welcome Afghan refugees-Edmonton

Canada’s evacuation mission in Afghanistan is over.

After at least two explosions in Kabul resulted in many deaths, many Afghan Canadians were shocked by the speed of the escalation in Kabul.

Those who managed to escape are now facing new challenges-some will soon resettle in Edmonton.

Refugees entering Edmonton

According to the Catholic Social Services Department (CSS), the timetable for the arrival is still unclear. The agency is a contract agency responsible for the settlement of government-assisted refugees in Edmonton and Red Deer.

Sharon Yeo, head of immigration and settlement services, said the situation in Afghanistan has been changing rapidly.

“There is very little information. We don’t have all the information,” she said.

Once refugees arrive in Edmonton, they will receive basic services such as health care, school enrollment and employment opportunities with the help of community organizations such as CSS.

“We receive refugees directly from the airport and help them take root in the community,” Yang said.

Yeo said staff who speak the two main Afghan languages-Dari and Pashto-will greet newcomers upon arrival.

Edris Azizi is a volunteer with the Edmonton Afghanistan Charity Association. The President said that the organization is working hard to provide services to new arrivals, just as they did to Syrian refugees when they came to Canada.

Azizi came to Canada from Afghanistan when he was 16 years old. He said that one of the first challenges is culture shock.

“We will plan to distribute welcome baskets to every family. We will be there at every step of every family,” Aziz said.

He said that although this is good news, many people will find safety in Canada, but now the evacuation work in Canada has stopped, and many people are still left behind.

“Can you imagine how the Afghan people feel about being abandoned and desperate?” he said.

2:06Afghan-Canadians said that as the country’s extraction mission ends, they are worried about the safety of their loved ones

How to help Afghan refugees

Members of the Edmonton community want to help, but CSS staff said that before recruiting volunteers, they are waiting to see what new individuals and families need.

“This is a broad field. If we learn anything from the Syrian refugees who arrive, it is that we know that people will want to help and step up to support new community residents,” she said.

Reyhana Patel of the Islamic Relief Society of Canada said that if you want to help now, you can donate to support the efforts of those who are still in Afghanistan.

“There is a lot of chaos. There are not enough people to coordinate the evacuation. Many people live in open spaces. There is no water, no shelter.

“Many of these people are women and girls, which makes them very, very vulnerable.

“Even before this happened, as many as 14 million Afghans were facing food insecurity. We can only see that this humanitarian situation is deteriorating.”

Patel encourages people to study which organizations are providing support for resettled refugees and refugees still in Afghanistan.

“The most pressing issues now are the displaced in open spaces and food insecurity. This country has been unstable for some time. Food shortages, shelter and water needs. The situation will only get worse.”

You can donate to Islamic Relief Society of Canada here.

If you are interested in CSS volunteering, potential volunteers can email here.

Hope Star is accepting funds designated to support Afghans arriving in Edmonton and Red Deer hereYou can also make a donation by calling 780-439-4673.