Afghan Refugees in the Bay Area
- Zenerations Bay Area
- Sep 19, 2021
- 3 min read
In recent weeks, the world has been watching Afghanistan and its people. However, one group of people that have been severely overlooked during this crisis are Afghan refugees who have immigrated to other places around the world.
More than 66,000 people of Afghan ancestry live in California, according to 2019 data from the United States census. The city of Fremont, especially, is home to one of the largest hubs of Afghan-Americans; one district is even unofficially called “Little Kabul”. Recently, many fled Afghanistan due to the withdrawal of the U.S. troops leading to the Taliban gaining control of the nation. A large portion of these refugees traveled to the San Francisco Bay Area because there were already communities of Afghan people here; many felt more comfortable being near people who shared their cultural values and identities. As a result, many growing communities of people of Afghan ancestry in the Bay Area are working to help those who are fleeing violence.
While many were able to flee Afghanistan before emigration restrictions were imposed, some were not as lucky. Many refugees were forced to leave family members and friends behind. A 26-year-old Afghan refugee told KRON 4 news that he is renting a house from another Afghan family in Hayward. The refugee only wanted to be referred to by his last name- Azizi- because he fears for the safety of his family in Afghanistan. His brother and pregnant sister-in-law were unable to escape the country. Azizi has not heard from them since the explosion at the Kabul airport, which killed dozens of Afghans in addition to thirteen United States service members. Azizi is one of seventy Afghan refugees who settled in the Bay Area with help from an organization called Jewish Community and Family Services East Bay (JFCS East Bay). The organization states that they expect sixty refugees, but the number is expected to grow.
How can we help? Government agencies and nonprofit organizations are setting up initiatives and fundraisers to facilitate aid efforts. Fremont Family Resources Center “set out to raise $100,000 to aid Afghans relocating to the Bay Area including for housing expenses,” said Geneva Bosques, Fremont’s director of communications and legislative affairs. On August 26th, the goal was close to being met. There is also a plethora of ways that ordinary citizens that don’t belong to nonprofits can aid Afghan refugees in the Bay Area. Many of these ways include donating to international, national, and local organizations. For example, JFCS East Bay has an Amazon wish list for the refugees. When items are purchased, they are shipped to their Concord office and distributed directly. Another organization, the Oakland branch of the International Rescue Committee, launched a $10 million appeal to raise funds for the support and protection of displaced people in Kabul.
Because of the social rules being imposed and the harsh punishments being enforced by the Taliban, female Afghan journalists are unable to work. If they continue reporting, they face extreme consequences. To combat this discrimination, the International Women's Media Foundation set up an emergency fund to assist journalists. The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee, or AJSC, also provides support and shelter for journalists and their families.
Of course, donations are not always possible. In this case, the next best thing to do is to reach out to your congresspeople and representatives. On this website, you can find and contact your congressional representative. Petitions like this one are also extremely useful in aiding Afghan refugees.
In this time of severe social and political upheaval, we must unite to help our fellow human beings combat discrimination.
Written by: Aparna Prabhakar
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