OKLAHOMA CITY —
More Afghan refugees are expected to arrive in Oklahoma.
Over the next week, dozens of Afghan refugees will be joining the 500 refugees who now call Oklahoma home. By the end of February, an expected 1,000 refugees are expected to be in the state.
“It is true that 80% of the Afghans who have been forced to leave their homes since the fall of Kabul are women and children and that definitely tracks with our experience here. We’re seeing lots of women with large families and lots and lots of kids,” said Veronica Laizure, Civil Rights Director at CAIR Oklahoma.
For months, CAIR Oklahoma has been hard at work to ensure all refugees are welcomed with open arms. To start, the refugees get a hot meal within one hour of arriving in OKC.
“We make sure every family is greeted with a welcome kit or welcome basket. These welcome kits contain hygiene items like soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste as well as religious items such as a copy of the Quran and a prayer rug so that they know as soon as they get here, their faith will be respected and welcomed,” Laizure said.
Once families get settled, CAIR Oklahoma connects the families with resources, such as a clothing closet and food pantry. They also help find medical care.
You can find out how to donate or help CAIR Oklahoma here.