HELP MY TRANSLATOR AND HIS FAMILY ESCAPE AFG

Hi, my name is Julia, I worked in Kabul, Afghanistan as a security contractor. While I was there I worked with a local interpreter and driver. He had been working with the American army since 2009 and with private contract companies for several years. Now, he needs help getting out safely with his young family.

This man (I can't share his name or pictures since the Taliban is actively searching for American sympathizers) is a top interpreter, driver and a wonderful human. While I was on the ground in Afghanistan, he went above and beyond by sharing deep details about social settings and customs that highly impacted my effectiveness in day to day operations. He made me feel safer in an area where I often was not.

Since June, he has been awaiting a flight for him, his wife and his two children, and has already received the Special Immigrant Visa paperwork from the US. Right now, they are currently waiting in Kabul with no electricity and only a few days of food in his home. His work with the United States over the years puts his whole family at risk, and as we were texting this morning he told me the Taliban has started searching out people who worked with the United States. 

While only the US government can accelerate their evacuation (they have completed the required repatriation flight paperwork, and now there's nothing to do but wait), the flight is only the first step in a very long and hard journey for this family. Once they arrive here, they'll have so many uncertainties and a whole new life awaiting them. They will be coming with nothing. No baggage. No home goods. No clothing. Starting from scratch in a whole new world. From what I've gathered from others that have been repatriated already, they’ll be taken to Fort Lee in Virginia for more paperwork and processing upon arrival, then they’ll be released. After that, it is unclear if they will be given any additional support. So I made this gofundme page to help them start their new life in America with hope, strong footing, and bravery.

Here is how I believe we can help them accomplish that:

1) Repatriation paperwork includes an acknowledgement that they will owe the US government $2,000 for each passenger, payable at some point after their arrival. Arriving with nothing in a new country, to be immediately saddled with debt, is stressful. It's my hope that we can raise enough money to cover these flight costs for the whole family, a total of $8,000.

2) A roof over their heads and food on the table for a few months will provide the necessary infrastructure to adjust to this abrupt life change and find work. At a minimum I estimate they'll need $3,000 a month to survive on, plus a few thousand more for clothing, bare essentials, and unforeseen costs like an apartment security deposit. I'm hoping we can raise at least 4 months of living expenses for them, as well as some padding.

I hope we can help this family feel the same safety in their darkest hour that this man showed me in Afghanistan. Thank you for your support!