“All Cleveland organizations that are international have one goal of getting as many people as possible to Cleveland.”
CLEVELAND – Local agencies in Cleveland are preparing to help hundreds of Afghans seeking refuge.
Cleveland is one of 19 cities who accept the special immigrant visa available to those who have worked with the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Cleveland is one of the 19 cities because we’ve been welcoming families from Afghanistan for 20 years,” said Joe Cimperman, president of Global Cleveland. “Some of these people come as a result of the regular relocation program and others as a result of evacuation.”
It’s a long and complicated process, but local resettlement organizations say there is an urgent need to help those who are evacuating Afghanistan. Cimperman said a family of eight arrived at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on Friday.
“All Cleveland organizations that are international want to bring as many people to Cleveland as possible,” said Cimperman.
Agencies like Response from refugees Cleveland are also working on hundreds of humanitarian parole requests for immediate family members of those who have provided direct aid to the United States
“These are family members who have been embedded in our armed forces, provided direct support, and risked their lives,” said Patrick Kearns, executive director of Refugee Response. “The least we can do is make sure that immediate family members are protected.”
A humanitarian parole application costs $ 575. Cimperman said more than $ 100,000 has been raised to help those who may need financial assistance.
How many Afghans are likely to arrive in Cleveland is difficult to say – but local resettlement agencies are prepared to take in hundreds.
“We’re all really planning to get numbers on the order of several hundred here to Northeast Ohio,” said Darren Hamm, field office director at USCRI Cleveland. “And that in addition to the normal numbers that we are likely to receive next year, which we have already forecast at around 1,200 people.”
Global Cleveland called for volunteers and donations to help local organizations in the area. click here for more information on how you can help.
