NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A New York-based nonprofit is already working to resettle and offer visa assistance to Afghan refugees who are hoping to make it in the U.S. after their home country fell to Taliban forces.
Mario Russell of Catholic Charities of New York said the organization is helping drivers, interpreters and others who assisted U.S. forces with finding a home, furnishings, food, healthcare, education, transportation and other support to help get them started on a second chance.
"We owe a debt of gratitude, a debt of loyalty," he tells WCBS 880's Peter Haskell. "We really have a moral obligation to protect and give safe haven to these families. It's not just the individuals themselves."
Over the past 10 days, 13 Afghans have been resettled and Russell hopes to be able to help many more.
"I can't tell you exactly how many we will see, but frankly, I'm hopeful we will see a lot of them," Russell said.
Most will be set up in the suburbs or farther away and Russell said the best option is to place them with relatives.
"Efforts will be made to have that new refugee family come and be united with that family member," Russell said.
There is a security screening and background check as part of the resettling process.
"These are people who are ready to work, they want to work and these are people who are going to be incredibly productive," Russell said.
Russell said the group is also helping refugees from Haiti after a devastating 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit the country on Aug. 14.