Articles Tagged: Afghanistan

Two decades after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the nation’s oldest and largest veterans’ service organizations are seeing their ranks diminish, as older members die and younger veterans are hesitant to fill the void.

When America withdrew from Afghanistan, the sudden influx of Afghan refugees was unprecedented. Many resettlement agencies had already been facing budget and staffing cuts, and they were not prepared for so many refugees to arrive all at once.

See where Cedar Rapids’ Afghan residents live, where they work, their biggest hopes and their biggest fears since the dust settled.

Even with significant budget cuts, resettlement agencies processed over 900 Afghans. After agencies across Iowa faced a wave of humanitarian parolees in the midst of substantial challenges, how did they fare?

A Coe College graduate who was the first in his Afghan village to learn how to read and write has spent the past 20 years supporting a school in his native country — one that educates girls as well as boys.

Nearly six months after the first Afghans arrived in Cedar Rapids as they fled the Taliban in Afghanistan, a Catherine McAuley Center case worker said about 250 live in the area.

The center has received about 205 Afghan refugees since October and is expected that to grow to at least 250 this year. That’s in addition to an expected 150 “typical” refugees the Catherine McCuley Center serves.

The Iowa Republican, who a year ago saw opportunities to work with his former Senate colleague on issues such as prescription drug pricing, now believes the president’s compromises to appease progressives are limiting his ability to reach bipartisan agreement on his proposals.

The refugees are settling in cities across the state, including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, the Quad-Cities, Sioux City and Council Bluffs.

Less than three months since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, eight humanitarian parolees in Cedar Rapids detail the fall of their home country and their hopes for their new home.

Since Oct. 16, refugees escaping the Taliban’s grip in Afghanistan have started to arrive in Cedar Rapids.

Panel looks to help communities find and develop the diversity and equity resources needed to greet refugees and immigrants, and create welcoming and inclusive environments for new populations.

They will be going to the major populated areas of the state, such as Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, where there are resources and jobs and support systems for them.

Legislation would honor military members, diplomats and humanitarian service in Afghanistan. Despite the chaotic end of operations, their resolution says their service “is something to be remembered, lauded, and honored.”

Armed with American flags, we were all in it together — until we weren’t.