Hi, I'm Greg.

We have been able to submit applications for humantarian paroles for three families. But other things have not gone well. There has been no progress on the US visas and now the US has announced that it will not process applications from Afghans still in Afghanistan. They have to first get out of the county (legally and on their own) and then find a US consulate that will accept them for processing. Apparently not all US consulates are willing to do this. I am trying to get visas to a third country for some of our people, but it is a long process and success is not guaranteed and they must already have passports (which a lot of our people lack)

Winter is coming and people need heat and warm clothing (and electricity - which is iffy). Kids are bored. Ellen (my wife) is helping with long-range English lessons for some of the childre. Friends are sending short video messages to them to help keep their morale up.

Plans for flights all seem to be on hold. So far, we have spent about $23,000 on legal bills and living expenses. If people start moving into Pakistan, there will be expenses for lodging and food there. No one is working in Afghanistan so households have no current income.

Background

 

I worked in Afghanistan for nearly two years and hired many great Afghan employees (200+) who helped us build schools for girls, help small farmers, dig wells and irrigation projects, build farm-to-market roads, and teach agriculture. This was under a US government funded project. Now my Afghan friends need help. An example is M (see picture). M and his family (wife, 2 daughters and one son) are hiding out and desperately need help.

 

We are trying to raise funds to help M and his family and several others for: legal fees, visa applications, air travel from a third country to the USA, living expenses, and eventual resettlement in the USA. For those of you who may not know:
** The application for humanitarian parole entry to the USA is $575/person (e.g., $2,875 for a family of five).
** The food and lodging for a family hiding out in Afghanistan can run as much as $1.500/month.
** A family living in a third country while waiting for their US visa may need as much as $4.000/month.
** Working through the process of getting a USA visa (under the SIV or P2 programs) can take many hours of expert legal advice. 

 

M and his family, and many families like his, need help. All funds donated to this GoFundMe will be used to support the evacuation and resettlement of Afghans who need help.

 

Please donate! Please share this appeal!

Greg

(Faces have been obscured and names hidden for the security of our friends.)