Afghan refugee who fled the Taliban finds a home in Maryland

BALTIMORE — It has been a protracted and difficult street for Afghan refugee Aziz Salehi who got here to the Baltimore space after he fled from Kabul final yr. 

“Staying in Kabul was form of harmful for me and for my relations,” Salehi stated.  

He was considered one of 1000’s of people that scrambled to depart their houses in Afghanistan after america accomplished its withdrawal of troops final August and the Taliban took management of the nation. 

Salehi was frightened that he could be focused by the Taliban as a result of he labored for an American firm. 

“They have been pondering I am form of a spy for America in order that’s why I attempted to flee,” he stated. 

Salehi and his household escaped to Pakistan after which they have been later granted a visa to come back to the US in April they usually started dwelling in Towson. 

However like so many Afghan refugees, it was not simple transitioning to an entire new nation. 

“We do not know in regards to the system, we do not know in regards to the tradition, every little thing is new for us,” stated Salehi. 

However with the assistance of a Baltimore nonprofit, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Salehi is lastly beginning to settle in, with a brand new job lined up at Johns Hopkins Hospital and the group serving to him get new garments to put on to work. 

“There’s been plenty of progress,” Timothy Younger, the director of public relations for the nonprofit, stated. “Resettlement companies throughout the nation, and us included, have actually helped them discover housing, discover employment, entry to neighborhood companies, enrolling youngsters in public education, serving to them construct these ties as they actually rebuild their lives right here.” 

Salehi stated he’s excited to start out his new job and proceed to get acclimated along with his new neighborhood. 

“So we are able to get this job, we are able to pay our payments and we are able to make our approach on this nation,” he stated. 

If you need to learn the way to assist out the Afghan refugees that Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, go to https://www.lirs.org/