Atlantic Council SOUTH ASIA CENTER
ISSUE BRIEF
Supporting Afghan Refugees:
A Case for Cultural Sensitivity and Humility in Resettlement Practices SEPTEMBER 2022
HALIMA AHMADI-MONTECALVO, AMANDA TERRY, and BELQUIS AHMADI
Introduction The South Asia Center is the Atlantic Council’s focal point for work on greater South Asia and the relations between its countries, neighboring regions, the United States, and Europe. It seeks to foster partnerships with key institutions in the region to serve as a forum for dialogues between decision makers in South Asia and the United States. Areas of focus include governance, trade and development, international migratory flows, traditional and non-traditional security, climate sustainability, energy, and other issues. The Center is committed to partnering with experts and stakeholders from both the region and the United States to offer critical analyses and practicable recommendations for policymakers. Opinions expressed are solely the views of the authors and do not express the views or opinions of their employers.
Many refugees have experienced or witnessed atrocities, systematic abuses, discrimination, and years of trauma—that have left life-long emotional, spiritual, and physical scars. In recognition of the one-year anniversary of the Taliban retaking control of Afghanistan, the authors of this publication seek to raise awareness of the whole person needs of settled refugees in the United States by highlighting experiences of a number of newly resettled Afghan refugees.1 Our newly arrived neighbors and friends experience unique challenges accessing services that would allow them to thrive and assimilate. This paper hopes to shed light on these experiences and the importance of a community-coordinated approach to support them.
Framing the plight of refugees In public discourse, immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers are often grouped together or referred to interchangeably. Yet, refugees and asylum seekers are categorically different from individuals who choose to immigrate, whether for economic opportunity, reunification with family, or some other voluntary reason. Refugees are forced to flee their homes due to war, violence, or persecution—their choice is one of life or death, which places them
1
The first author, Halima Ahmadi-Montecalvo, documented anecdotes (with permission) from newly arrived Afghan refugees through her voluntary work in the resettlement process. Names and other identifying details have been changed throughout.