COMMUNITY

Afghan refugee donations at capacity on Holloman Air Force Base

Nicole Maxwell
Alamogordo Daily News

Task Force-Holloman announced that donations to Operation Allies Welcome, the Afghan refugee resettlement program, has reached capacity.

"Due to the overwhelming support from the local community, donations for Operation Allies Welcome are at capacity," a Task Force-Holloman news release states.

About 100 tons of donated items have been donated towards Operation Allies Welcome, the news release states.

More:Donations requested for Afghan refugees arriving at Holloman Air Force Base

Afghan refugees started arriving at Holloman Air Force Base on Aug. 31. These refugees are seeking Afghan special immigration visas which are for those who were employed by or for the United States during the war in Afghanistan.

Donations from the local community are being organized in a warehouse at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, Sept. 4, 2021. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan evacuees essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan.

"As Afghan personnel arrive, they arrive with different statuses in the application process," Task Force- Holloman spokeswoman MSgt. Rachel Waller said, "As such, the visa process is different for each person or family depending on where they are in the process, and that will impact how long they will be housed here at Task Force-Holloman."

More:'Treated with the utmost dignity and respect': Afghan refugees land at Holloman

The Afghan refugees were vetted by security screenings done by U.S. intelligence, law enforcement and counter-terrorism professionals, according to a senior Biden Administration official on Aug. 24.

Holloman Air Force Base is one of several military installations hosting a 50,000 Afghan refugees.

More:Holloman Air Force Base hosting Afghan refugees, first arrived Aug. 31

The other military installations to house refugees are Fort Lee, Virginia; Fort McCoy, Wisconsin; Fort Bliss, Texas; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; and Fort Pickett, Virginia.

The Afghan refugees are being provided transportation, temporary housing, medical screenings and other general support through the U.S. Department of Defense through U.S. Northern Command supporting the U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security.

Volunteers from the Salvation Army and the Red Cross unload shelves in a warehouse at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, Sept. 4, 2021. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan evacuees essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan.

Although the community donation effort has reached capacity, there are other ways for people to support Operation Allies Welcome including watching for targeted donations for Afghan refugees as needs arise through the Allies Welcome Holloman Air Force Base website and the Holloman Spouses Organization Facebook page.

To give a monetary donation, Task Force-Holloman suggests donating to:

  • The American Red Cross
  • The International Rescue Committee
  • The Salvation Army
  • United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
  • International Organization for Migration
  • National VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster)

For more information, contact Task Force-Holloman at 575-572-1468.

Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter.

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