![]() ![]() Some of these individuals are being supported temporarily at Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly,” the county spokesperson wrote. “Currently, the county is supporting a Department of State operation for people evacuated from Afghanistan and arriving at Dulles International Airport. They were previously housed at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale as well.Ī Fairfax County spokesperson confirmed that the county is providing support for resettlement efforts, primarily assisting with health, human services, and public safety needs. ![]() ![]() Ralph Northam’s office and the federal government.Īs of yesterday (Tuesday), more than 6,000 people and 44 dogs have arrived at Dulles International Airport in the last week, according to an email from state officials to local partners.Ĭurrently, new arrivals are temporarily being housed at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. They are sharing that list with both Virgina Gov. “The funding is going to keep going on for a while because there’s so many people coming in that they’re going to need help,” she said.Īdditionally, the ADAMS Center is putting together a list of local residents who speak Dari and Pashto and can act as translators. The ADAMS Center is currently collecting funds to help with both immediate needs, such as gift cards to Target or Walmart that can be used to purchase basic items, and long-term needs for housing, jobs, and education.įariad says the center was collecting individual items, like toiletries and hygiene items, but they got “inundated” and need time to sort through all of the donations. She also serves as the center’s Afghan lead, working with Lutheran Social Services to help those who have evacuated Afghanistan to make a new home in the U.S., joining many non-profit and faith-based organizations across the region. It’s the second-largest Muslim community in the country and serves people across Fairfax and Loudoun counties. Today, Fariad works as outreach coordinator at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society - also known as the ADAMS Center - in Sterling. “The sentiment of leaving your home, leaving everything behind…and coming to a country where you don’t know anything, you don’t know the culture, you don’t know the people, you don’t know who’s going to help you - it’s terrifying,” she said. While the circumstances were certainly different three decades ago, her emotions upon seeing another exodus in the wake of the Taliban’s recent takeover are comparable to her own experiences. She fled Afghanistan with her family in the 1980s while the country was under Soviet occupation. (Updated at 9:35 a.m.) Hurunnessa Fariad knows what it’s like to be an Afghan refugee. Packages received by the ADAMS Center to help Afghan evacuees (courtesy ADAMS Center) ![]()
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