It’s official: US residents can now sponsor refugees. Here’s how:

via @csmonitor

csmonitor.com/USA/2023/0208/… "Refugee advocates see several gains ahead..enhanced local support for new arrivals and more ways for the receiving communities to engage. During some 15yrs of refugee resettlement work, KitTaintor says she’s seen more people desire to help refugees than there are opportunities."

Launch of Welcome Corps- Private Sponsorship of Refugees – Press Statement

PRESS STATEMENT

ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE

JANUARY 19, 2023

state.gov/launch-of-the-… "The State Dept in collaboration with DeptOfHealth+HumanServices, announcing WelcomeCorps, a new private sponsorship program that will enable Americans to sponsor refugees arriving thru US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) directly support their resettlement make a difference"

"Beginning in mid-2023, WelcomeCorps will expand to allow private sponsors to identify refugees in need of protection whom they wish to sponsor+refer refugee applicants for consideration to the USRAP, subject to program criteria established by the US govt"
welcomecorps.org/resources/faqs/ "Further information on this expansion of the Welcome Corps will be made available in the coming months. To stay in touch and learn about further developments in the Welcome Corps program, you can join our email list here."

welcomecorps.org/subscribe

43 Connecticut Residents Still Stuck In Afghanistan nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/43-… The BBC reported that members of the G20 group of major economies have pledged to avert an economic catastrophe in Afghanistan.

It said, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the country should not be allowed to “descend into chaos”.

Afghanistan | Humanitarian Assistance | U.S. Agency for International Development usaid.gov/humanitarian-a… The UN released $45 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund for immediate support to health facilities through the end of 2021.

How the IRC is helping resettle Afghans around the globe rescue.org/article/how-ir… via @RESCUEorg "The International Rescue Committee has worked to deliver aid in Afghanistan for 30 years, last year reaching 1 million people with vital services. In recent months, we assisted nearly 1,300 Afghans affiliated with the United States to resettle there."
via
@RESCUEorg

REQUEST FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE Human Rights First: Project Afghan Legal Assistance (PALA) docs.google.com/forms/d/1cHk1l… Please input information for Afghan individuals who are physically present in the United States and seeking immigration legal assistance in the United States.

After the Taliban seized their school, Afghanistan’s all-female orchestra tried to flee. Only some escaped.

By Sudarsan Raghavan

washingtonpost.com/world/2021/10/… "Today, their school—Afghanistan National Institute of Music—is a military base of the Haqqani network, hard-line group allied with the Taliban with strong links to al-Qaeda."

@PentagonPresSec
@SecBlinken
ConnectTheDots
#Taliban_ISIS_AlQaeda
#TalibanCredibilityZERO
#RussiaFactor

afghanevac.org/evacuation/
I recieved this email

"Hello and thank you for reaching out to #AfghanEvac,

We are receiving thousands of messages each day, so active monitoring of this inbox is very challenging and you should not expect a direct response. The inf below should help." "The veteran and humanitarian communities have not forgotten the American citizens, legal permanent residents, visa holders, and other Afghan allies who are still in Afghanistan. We are continuing to work to find ways for you to leave the country. "

No Afghans Rescued on Flights Chartered Through Influencer’s $7M Mission: WaPo thedailybeast.com/instagram-star… via @thedailybeast An Instagram star known as “Quentin Quarantino” raised $7.2 million to help fund evacuation flights for Afghan refugees, but has yet to charter a single successful flight, according to an investigation by The Washington Post.

Flight chartering companies propose Biman to operate evacuation flights from Afghanistan | The Daily Star thedailystar.net/news/asia/sout… "Several flight chartering companies have proposed Biman Bangladesh Airlines to evacuate thousands, including Afghan citizens who worked for the American troops, from the country in turmoil."

🔴#Taliban2ICC
#TalibanTrump

@POTUS @JoeBiden has defended the decision, arguing that a withdrawal deadline agreed upon with the Taliban by Trump left the UnitedStates with no better option."
👉 #GuamOption
#KeepOurPromise #NoOneLeftBehind
#GetThemToGuam

postguam.com/the_globe/worl… "Rohde(worked for Times at time of incident but now NewYorker magazine)brave escape from Taliban compound in Pakistan, where his kidnappers had been keeping hostages. Afghan journalist TahirLudin was able to escape with Rohde, while a 3rd captive, AsadullahMangal, stayed behind."