Help sought for Afghans, Haitians

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee highlighted humanitarian efforts to resettle Afghan evacuees and Haitian refugees to Houston in the coming months during a press conference Thursday, while calling for additional donations to help the groups.

“I am joined today with groups in the Houston area, some of which are local, state or national organizations with long histories of coming to the assistance of those in need of compassionate care during times of crisis,” the Houston Democrat said.

Jackson Lee was joined by various local businesses, nonprofits and religious groups of Afghan and Haitian background that are aiming to provide evacuees and refugees with pro bono legal work as well as help with food, translation services, technology and permanent housing.

“So where do we go? Who else is going to help us? Who has the biggest face?” Jackson Lee asked about the need of additional supplies for relocations to Houston. “Because I’m going to be looking for people donating furniture that is dictated by the resettlement organizations, technology so that people can be connected to the homeland and we may need some cable service. We want the community to stand up.”

In response to Thursday morning’s suicide bombing that took place at the Kabul airport, Jackson Lee said the blame should fall solely on the Taliban while adding that it is important for Americans to remember the heroism of the soldiers doing the work out in Afghanistan.

“It is important for us to acknowledge the commitment … of our soldiers who are determined not to leave one American behind,” she said. “Again, I keep saying this since we started, the lives that were lost in these past 24 hours, those that were injured and those Afghans who were injured, none of this was in vain. We have to be the ones to uphold that.”