It’s been more than two weeks since our last update. We want to assure you we’ve been continuing full-speed ahead these past weeks. Work has not slowed at all.
You may enjoy reading a few notes from some of the people whom you helped through your support of Operation Rescue (in some cases, names may have been changed to protect the family or individual):
You may enjoy reading a few notes from some of the people whom you helped through your support of Operation Rescue (in some cases, names may have been changed to protect the family or individual):
“I hope you are fine and healthy. Thank you very much for your efforts to save my life and the lives of my family to get out of Afghanistan. I will never forget your love.” - Amiri | “Thank you so much. Your kindness, support and assistance with us will never be forgotten. Thank you again. We got out from the hell of ignorance forces.” - Hassan |
“Thank you a million times from the bottom of our hearts. [Our family will have a] better future in a different country than Afghanistan [and this] matters a lot. They will never forget the future they have been granted by your kindness and support. I cried today hearing that they made it out of Afghanistan. I tried for many years to get them out of that hell but I am glad it happened with your support. Thank you.” - Ibrahimi
| “Thanks a lot for your team’s hard work until did rescue our lives and bring us to safe place. Thank you again.” - Abuzar | “My death was 100% sure and now I am safe. Thank you!” - Eesa |
Many more notes of appreciation could be shared, but you get the idea.
Recently one of our supporters asked us if we are done using aircraft to move people to safety and others may be wondering the same. We have seats arranged on more flights, and, as long as it is possible to get people out by air, we’ll do everything we can to ensure they are on these flights. In the meantime we’re also arranging flights for people to move to their next destination, so yes, we do plan on more flights.
Simultaneously, we’re also setting up several overland routes that hold promise.
As we mentioned in our last update, finding countries that will allow Afghan refugees to enter continues to be a major challenge. As we’ve collaborated with dozens of individuals and organizations, we now have several “first-stop” countries available where refugees can find safety for at least a few months and one or two other countries with longer times. Sadly, the places willing to resettle Afghan refugees remain limited.
On a happy note, we learned this past Friday morning that nearly ALL of one group on our earlier flight will be given permanent status in the US! While the US made a lot of promises to the Afghan people, tens of thousands have felt abandoned and extremely vulnerable. We’ve seen several indications that the US government is taking action, creating ways to make it easier for these vulnerable refugees to find safety. We hope and pray these steps will lead to real help for desperate families.
Another bright spot is the new policy allowing circles of friends to sponsor refugees and help them settle in their communities. This is a major move forward and an opportunity for friends, communities, churches, families to officially welcome Afghan refugees. Please feel free to send us an email asking how you can become involved!
Operation Rescue is working with several organizations to help set up housing, food, and health care for refugees in places they’ll be for their first few months after leaving Afghanistan. This process has involved high-level negotiations with the host country governments as well as on-the-ground organizations willing to manage these efforts. Stay tuned for more details soon.
Our latest efforts also involve identifying employment opportunities for Afghan refugees in the hopes of getting them to safety via employment. Working with recruitment agencies, we believe some on our list will find work and be able to leave the country for employment.
Several people have asked if we are still raising money to support our efforts to help these desperate families. The answer is absolutely, we are! It is expensive to move people by air and by overland. Housing, food, and health-care cost nearly $10 a day per person. Many families have very few resources and are depending on your generosity to cover these costs.
We have greatly appreciated your support during these months and know we can count on you to continue helping the people of Afghanistan through Operation Rescue.
Operation Rescue started off with a small group of us who had hopes of chartering aircraft and moving people to an airbase in Doha where they would be processed by the US government and flown to the US and safety. Things changed very quickly when the airport was closed and the US military left. Soon Doha was no longer an option and we began searching for other places to take people, arranging places for people to stay once they were evacuated, and looking for permanent places for these people to start their lives over again. As we launched Operation Rescue under the umbrella of nPraxis International, with a list of around 700 asking for our help we’ve now moved to an Operation that has been running for months. Our team of volunteers has given countless hours to get us to where we are today. Our list of desperate people continues to grow as people hear that Operation Rescue is getting people out of the country. More than ever, we covet your prayers and financial support.
Recently one of our supporters asked us if we are done using aircraft to move people to safety and others may be wondering the same. We have seats arranged on more flights, and, as long as it is possible to get people out by air, we’ll do everything we can to ensure they are on these flights. In the meantime we’re also arranging flights for people to move to their next destination, so yes, we do plan on more flights.
Simultaneously, we’re also setting up several overland routes that hold promise.
As we mentioned in our last update, finding countries that will allow Afghan refugees to enter continues to be a major challenge. As we’ve collaborated with dozens of individuals and organizations, we now have several “first-stop” countries available where refugees can find safety for at least a few months and one or two other countries with longer times. Sadly, the places willing to resettle Afghan refugees remain limited.
On a happy note, we learned this past Friday morning that nearly ALL of one group on our earlier flight will be given permanent status in the US! While the US made a lot of promises to the Afghan people, tens of thousands have felt abandoned and extremely vulnerable. We’ve seen several indications that the US government is taking action, creating ways to make it easier for these vulnerable refugees to find safety. We hope and pray these steps will lead to real help for desperate families.
Another bright spot is the new policy allowing circles of friends to sponsor refugees and help them settle in their communities. This is a major move forward and an opportunity for friends, communities, churches, families to officially welcome Afghan refugees. Please feel free to send us an email asking how you can become involved!
Operation Rescue is working with several organizations to help set up housing, food, and health care for refugees in places they’ll be for their first few months after leaving Afghanistan. This process has involved high-level negotiations with the host country governments as well as on-the-ground organizations willing to manage these efforts. Stay tuned for more details soon.
Our latest efforts also involve identifying employment opportunities for Afghan refugees in the hopes of getting them to safety via employment. Working with recruitment agencies, we believe some on our list will find work and be able to leave the country for employment.
Several people have asked if we are still raising money to support our efforts to help these desperate families. The answer is absolutely, we are! It is expensive to move people by air and by overland. Housing, food, and health-care cost nearly $10 a day per person. Many families have very few resources and are depending on your generosity to cover these costs.
We have greatly appreciated your support during these months and know we can count on you to continue helping the people of Afghanistan through Operation Rescue.
Operation Rescue started off with a small group of us who had hopes of chartering aircraft and moving people to an airbase in Doha where they would be processed by the US government and flown to the US and safety. Things changed very quickly when the airport was closed and the US military left. Soon Doha was no longer an option and we began searching for other places to take people, arranging places for people to stay once they were evacuated, and looking for permanent places for these people to start their lives over again. As we launched Operation Rescue under the umbrella of nPraxis International, with a list of around 700 asking for our help we’ve now moved to an Operation that has been running for months. Our team of volunteers has given countless hours to get us to where we are today. Our list of desperate people continues to grow as people hear that Operation Rescue is getting people out of the country. More than ever, we covet your prayers and financial support.
