Following the recent attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan finds itself entirely under the control of the Taliban. The group’s militancy has caused many living in the capital city to flee and seek refugee status outside of their home country. Since the takeover, the United States has evacuated over 95,000 refugees from the Kabul airport. While many of these people will be heading across Europe and neighboring countries, some will be eligible for special visas within the United States. Namely, Afghan nationals who aided the U.S. government during the war in Afghanistan can apply for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV’s).

Nonprofits who specialize in refugee support are preparing for a large number of SIV refugees to start entering the US. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is among the most prominent of these nonprofits, along with the Islamic-American Zakat Foundation (IAZF), and the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). While each of these organizations have unique methods, the goal is generally to provide housing, job opportunities, and money to get new immigrants on their feet in a new country. All of these organizations are currently accepting donations, which will provide funding for these services. 

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Many refugee-focused nonprofits have been operating for decades, and have experience handling larger numbers of patrons during a refugee crisis. However, it is important for these organizations to stay vigilant and be prepared for anything. Large numbers of immigrants can mean increased hours and high-stress work environments. In order to provide the maximum support possible, organizations should continue to stress internal structure and organization. Systems may already be in place for extra volunteers to assist during difficult times, and nonprofits should ensure that any pre-existing systems like this are prepared to work at their full capacity. 

If you have time or resources available to you, consider contributing to some of the great nonprofits that are on the front lines working to ensure that refugees and immigrants are able to make a new life for themselves in the United States. Considering the volatile situation in Afghanistan, and President Biden’s recent remarks about the future of the country, it’s also a good idea to keep your eye on the news and stay updated on what’s happening and how you can support those who are helping.

About the Author:

Christian graduated from Florida State University in 2020 with a degree in Editing, Writing, and Media. While in school, Christian focused on the changing media landscape, particularly in relation to culture, politics, music, and legal studies. Christian also volunteered as the director of production at FSU’s on-campus radio station, WVFSTallahassee, and graduated with honors following the completion of his undergraduate thesis. At Clear Impact, Christian writes about current topics that relate to the data needs of nonprofits and small governments.