The images from Afghanistan over the last week have been nightmarish. But it has been imperative to lean in. For the sake of loving my Afghan students through this and for empathizing with my neighbors, it has been vital.
The images from Afghanistan over the last week have been nightmarish. We’ve watched in horror as another refugee crisis has unfolded on our screens. Images of airplanes, massive crowds, babies passed over barbed wire – it’s equal parts hard to look away and hard to watch. This crisis has felt like our own.
What even is happening? The information is out there. You need not look far to find the articles from the major news outlet. The captivating headlines are impossible to miss.
But if I’m honest with you, I’m wary of many of those articles. I find myself second guessing their validity, wondering where the holes are in my understanding. Not that I totally disbelieve, but I’ve learned to hold the news with a loose grip, to remember that it’s only one glimpse of a situation with a million nuances.
Regardless of your political stances, opinions on how we got here and whether we should be and how soon it should have been, the crisis in Afghanistan tugs at our innermost humanity. It moves us to profound sorrow, bewilderment, and fear for what has already been and what is yet to be lost in that nation.
I know it’s a lot to take in. And while I don’t want to overwhelm you, I do want to share some resources to help you navigate this crisis.
I’m not a perfect researcher, but these resources have given me a clearer understanding of this isolated Afghan turmoil, as well as the refugee and immigration process as a whole. These are sources that help folks like me and you learn, support, and advocate.
And while these are not all Afghan-centered resources, I’m going to link to the Afghan pages on the sites for you.
My hope is that you would walk away with these resources, empowered with the knowledge and tools to do what the Father lays on your heart to help this situation. Whether that’s just staying up to date with the news to know how to best pray, or to give financially to credible institutions, may this list help you on your way.
International Rescue Committee
One of the sources I’ve followed since the earliest days of working with refugees in Nashville, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) shares bite-sized chunks of information. Their news is efficient and easy for someone with minimal understanding to follow. They’re doing on-the-ground work in some of the world’s hardest places.
There are many conflicts in the world that I don’t understand. This group helps me to gain a basic understanding by offering information about a particular country’s crisis’ history, humanitarian conflicts, how the IRC helps, and how advocates can help for not only Afghanistan, but several other countries in conflict around the globe.
website: rescue.org | Instagram: @rescueorg
Aljazeera
Based and partially funded in Qatari, a lot of my reading lately has led me to this website. Let’s be frank: American news and politics can be overwhelming. This site steps in to help fill in some of gaps in our understanding, educate about international news, and offer a fresh perspective to stories we might have already heard.
I discovered their podcast earlier this week, and that’s been a huge help to break up the stream of solely written news. I recommend this site just for the sake of expanding our news selection.
website: Aljazeera.com | Instagram: @aljazeeraenglish | Podcast: The Take (episode 290): What can we expect from Taliban 2.0?
Human Rights Watch
This site seeks to defend the rights of people, shed light on inhumane or abusive situations, and desires to bring perpetrators to justice. Covering situations in over 90 countries across the globe, you can expect to find situations that won’t make it on the evening news. Human Rights Watch speaks on topics ranging from crisis/conflict to rights of older people, to health and children’s rights.
Their Daily Brief is a daily email that concisely packs together news highlights every day.
website: hrw.org | Instagram: @humanrightswatch
UNHCR: the UN Refugee Agency
I’ve given a few presentations on the refugee process, and this is always the first site I explore for the most updated information and stats. In those same presentations, I rarely use infographics or cite information unless they have this agency’s name on them.
This is the legit place to start at if you’re seeking to learn more about the refugees, immigrants, and the situations that created them all over the world.
website: unhcr.org | Instagram: @refugees
International Refugee Assistance Project
This agency’s model focuses on helping with the lawful and human rights of refugees and immigrants. Organizing law students and lawyers, this agency provides direct legal aid, systemic advocacy, and litigation to clients and their unique situations across the globe. I don’t think you’ll be surprised to learn that the legal side of immigration can be incredibly difficult and nuanced.
This agency fills in the gap, and for folks in unique situations – like the SIVs the US has promised to bring over – this mission is vital. (By the way, the link is to a page to learn more about SIVs, because let’s be honest, it’s an insanely unique situation).
website: refugeerights.org
The Worldwide Tribe
This Uk-based crew focuses on telling stories of migration. In the last week, this account has shared the meaning of the Afghan flag, artists responding to the crisis, an infographic about Afghan’s refugees (cited UNHCR’s data, so yeah, I trust it), how to help the nation, and specific stories from the people.
Bonus: there’s a podcast. Break up the monotony of reading by listening to real stories in the world, directly from the source.
blog: worldwidetribe.com | podcast: worldwidetribe.com | Instagram: @theworldwidetribe
Mercy Corps
This team of humanitarians works together directly in the globe’s crisis points to overcome by providing direct aid to the greatest points of poverty, suffering, and oppression. Mercy Corps envisions a future where all people feel safe, secure, and productive in their communities. The agency cares for an array of unique needs from agriculture, emergency response, food security, and more.
While their program in Afghanistan has been paused, they still have efforts around the world. Another source on their site is the search bar. When I searched “Afghanistan,” I discovered a library of articles of their work, news, and reports – even as far back as 2001 – spanning across pages.
website: mercycorps.org | Instagram: @mercycorps
The Afghan Community
I don’t have a link to share with you for this one. When this crisis started to unfold last week, I asked Travis who I could trust to give me the most reliable news. Without skipping a beat, he said my Afghan student’s name.
“She is. Ask her about her family, what she knows about how things have unfolded in Kabul,” he suggested.
And he’s right. If you know any Afghan people, check on them. Find them. As they start to, Lord willing, trickle in to our communities, listen to their stories. We live in the age of information, but the most compelling resource I have discovered so far are in the voices of the people I meet.
What resources have helped inform you to best pray and give during this situation? Let us know in the comments.