City Of Philadelphia: How You Can Help Afghan Evacuees Arriving In Philadelphia

Press release from the City of Philadelphia:

Sarah Reyes

August 27, 2021

Updated to include the need for Urdu and Farsi interpreters in addition to Dari and Pashto.

The City of Philadelphia and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) are coordinating with the federal government’s Operation Allies Refuge to provide a point-of-entry location for people evacuated from Afghanistan. 

The Kenney administration is working with partners to welcome evacuees and returning American citizens who will be arriving in our city over the coming days.

The Philadelphia International Airport is the second airport in the nation to welcome arrivals as part of this federally-led relief operation and emergency response, Operation Allies Refuge PHL. The City of Philadelphia is collaborating with the federal government and is focused on protecting the rights and dignity of Afghan families arriving in the country. 

The City of Philadelphia is ready to provide medical assistance, housing, and connection to our diverse community of immigrant service providers who can assist with an array of social services. 

In Philadelphia, we know our diversity is our strength. We are a proud welcoming city that celebrates its vibrant immigrant community. Below, we’ve outlined a few ways residents can help with Operation Allies Refuge PHL.

How you can help

Please keep in mind, Philadelphia International Airport has a regulation stating that access to the terminal building is restricted to those with airport business, including ticketed passengers, those with approval from the police or CEO, and employees.

Members of the public should not expect to access the terminal buildings unless they have official airport business. 

Many of the evacuees coming to Philadelphia as part of this operation do not speak English. To help be able to talk with them, the City is asking for anyone who can provide interpretation in Dari, Pashto, Urdu, or Farsi to volunteer to help. 

All volunteers who can provide interpretation services are required to be members of the Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). The MRC is a group of more than 2,500 volunteers who serve the City during public health emergencies and large-scale events. 

To sign up, visit the SERVPA website and select “Medical Reserve Corps Organizations” from the drop-down menu and then select “Philadelphia MRC” from the secondary menu. The MRC is actively reviewing applications and will be in touch as soon as possible.

Material goods are not being collected at this moment at Philadelphia locations where people from Afghanistan are arriving and being assisted by the City.

The best way to support organizations that are providing aid to people is through monetary donations to vetted groups who are providing immediate and long-term relief.

In Philadelphia, the City’s Office of Immigrant Affairs is working with Nationalities Services Center and HIAS Pennsylvania. 

Financial donations allow individuals to purchase what is most appropriate for their needs, provide organizations greater flexibility, and take less staff and space to manage while also reducing traffic around locations.

If you wish to donate material goods, the United States Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey has created a list of goods and materials to donate directly to incoming refugees. 

This press release was produced by the City of Philadelphia.The views expressed here are the author’s own.