More Afghan refugees arriving in Tucson

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TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) – More Afghans are now coming to Tucson because of the dangers they face after helping Americans there. Now Tucsonans are lining up to help them.

Afghans who made it to the transition centers in the US are now leaving those centers to go to places like Tucson. Lutheran Social Service is one of several institutions preparing for them. They are currently expecting ten more families. They believe they have the capacity for about 150 more refugees.

Heidi Urbina of Lutheran Social Service says, “So we’re trying to find shelter for them before they come in. We have staff who are employment specialists, case managers, and educational staff who help students start school, their parents find work help and simply bring them to life here. “

Urbina says it helps that many of the Afghans have served as English translators so that there are fewer language barriers.

Donations for the refugees fill Steve Kozachik’s city council office.

Looking at a room full of toys, clothes and furniture, Kozachik says, “This is this morning.”

KGUN9 reporter Craig Smith asked, “This room is this morning?

Kozachik: “We had a little pile in the corner this morning and that happened today.”

Kozachik sees the donation as a sign of Tucson’s generosity and the indolence of the federal government.

He says: “This community is way ahead of the federal government when it comes to the allocation of Afghan refugees by the federal government. We have 51,000 in round numbers in the United States that was kind of filtered out at eight different military bases. They call them safe havens. They only spend about 3500 a week, which means we’ll be looking at it for three or four months. “

To manage the donations, Kozachik works with organizations such as the Catholic Community Service and the Islamic Center. With supplies arriving faster than the refugees who use them, Habitat for Humanity has agreed to sell donated goods in its Habistore and donate half of the proceeds to Afghan refugees to use for supplies upon arrival.

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