Afghan refugees start to arrive in Tucson | News

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TUCSON (KVOA) – Pots, pans, toys and towels are just a few of the donations made on the floor at Tucson City Council office Steve Kozachik Monday night.

All of these important things go to the Afghan refugees infiltrating Tucson.

Both Kozachik and Lutheran Social Services confirmed to News 4 Tucson that the first group of Afghan refugees to arrive in southern Arizona.

Kozachik told us that in the United States there are currently more than 50,000 refugees temporarily living in select military bases.

He assumes the number will increase.

Kozachik told News 4 Tucson that the federal government is handling about 3,500 Afghan refugees from federal facilities every week across the country.

“What is happening now is that the community is way ahead of the federal government in offering donations and making arrangements for the families to arrive,” Kozachik said. “And the slow pace of the federal government has created an enormous amount of catching up to do and a donation bottleneck.”

Kozachik knows that refugee organizations are often only given 24 to 48 hours before the refugees arrive.

He said communities and local governments have no idea how quickly Washington can accelerate this process.

“They are young children, they are families that have been separated and reunited,” Kozachik said. “It’s people who go through PTSD, through the trauma. We need to move them from military bases to more permanent living conditions. This community does not have the luxury of traveling at the pace of government. “

You can hand in your donations Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the community office of Community 6. Kozachik works with Habitat For Humanity to accept furniture donations and housewares for Afghan refugees.

Habitat for Humanity’s donation line is 520-230-5323

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