Time is of the essence, according to Marsha Hirsch, executive director of the Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency (CRRA), based in Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city. Unlike most refugees, nearly all Afghan evacuees already had some connection to the United States, having been on U.S. payrolls during America's 20-year war in Afghanistan or related to someone who was. Omer noted that some Afghan evacuees have already arrived in North Carolina, with more to come from U.S. military bases where they have been temporarily housed. "We are facing housing issues, not affordable housing – housing period. "I would have to say from our office's point of view, it hasn't been our experience that people have been hostile to this process [accepting and resettling Afghan refugees]," she said.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 02, 2021 01:10 UTC