The Crisis in Afghanistan: Ways for You to Help
By Jaana Rehnstrom, Rabia Farhang, and Annina Rautalahti
Source: The New York Times
As the situation in Afghanistan keeps changing on a daily basis, we mourn the loss of life at Kabul airport as desperate citizens are attempting to escape. We understand the fear underlying this desire to flee. Women especially have made significant progress during the last 20 years. However, judging from the history of the Taliban and recent events, women are at risk once again of being confined to their homes, excluded from jobs and visible positions in society, education, sports, and cultural activities, of being forced into marriages, or killed for breaking the rules. We all want to do something to help, but how can we?
Currently, there are many fundraisers, e.g., on GoFundMe, and most of them are doing very well. Some of them raise funds to help resettle refugees; others aim to bring people out of the country or help people remain in the country. Generosity is commendable, but the future of NGO’s operating in the country is uncertain. The Taliban seem to be accepting the presence and continuing operation of certain large entities such as the Red Half Moon/Red Cross and MSF (Doctors without Borders). The banks have recently reopened, but many abroad will be wary of sending funds into the country.
Getting people out of the country is currently a big question mark. The Taliban control all land crossings, and as of this moment, we do not know what will happen at the airport when the US leaves. People with travel documents, visas, and/or invitations to come to another country will have to wait while the situation clears, all the time at risk. If and when they will be able to leave, they will need to go to the nearest country that accepts them and apply for asylum there. Another way is for them to find their way to an embassy or consulate that will accept visa applications, then once at their final destination, apply for asylum. It may be possible for individuals and organizations to assist by buying airplane tickets, paying for visas and lodging while in transit.
In any case, there will now be a large number of families coming in from Afghanistan who will need help resettling. It may be best to focus on helping these. Aside from UNHCR and established refugee resettlement organizations, individuals can help by supporting other civil society organizations such as Women for Afghan Women, engaging their churches, Rotary and Lions clubs, and forming giving circles to assist families arriving in their communities with funds and practical help settling into their new and strange surroundings.
Once in the country, many of these educated women will look for jobs. We arranged for a letter of invitation for a woman scholar and her husband, who is also an academic, to a post-doc position at the University of Tampere, Finland. If you have connections to institutions, please do some research to see if others could do the same: open up sponsored positions for female academics and female students from Afghanistan. For refugees abroad, this will help with obtaining a visa. Scholars at Risk is campaigning for this.
Unfortunately, as in every crisis, there are already scammers trying to take advantage of the situation. When giving to an organization, choose one whose work you know, or if you know someone involved with it, and via their own website – make sure it is legit.
WHAT IS THE KOTA ALLIANCE DOING?
Kota is forming its own giving circle to assist Afghan female refugees and their families arriving in the New York area. You can donate to it here.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Resources for individuals at risk from Scholars at Risk: https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources-for-at-risk-individuals-from-afghanistan/
Our partner organization, Code to Inspire, had been able to get funds into Afghanistan using crypto currency. Click Link to donate: https://www.codetoinspire.org/donate-crypto/
New York Times article, How to Help Afghans Refugees and the Relief Effort, provides a list of organizations accepting donations and volunteers to assist in Afghan refugee resettlement
Women for Afghan Women’s extensive list on how to help Afghan refugees (updated frequently)
Donate to International Rescue Committee (IRC not only helps refugees but Afghans in need inside the country)
If you want to find resettlement agencies: https://rcusa.org/get-involved/volunteer/#map
Vital Voices has set up the Vital Voices Afghan Women’s Fund to support the safety of women’s rights activists in Afghanistan and those who have been evacuated from the country
Good Counsel Inc. is offering legal services for Afghan refugees