Help for Afghan Interpreter: Welcome Faez Family

Hafizurahman Faez (Zee) and his family are an Afghan family in need of immediate assistance during their transition to life in the United States. Zee arrived with his wife and five children (2 girls and 3 boys) in Maryland on August 9.

I first met Zee in 2010 in Wardak province Afghanistan where he worked with me and my soldiers as an interpreter to keep our base secure. He operated on the front line with American soldiers and often watched our backs while we slept. Not only did he face physical danger on a daily basis, but by taking a public stance to work with US soldiers he put himself and his family at risk.

When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, I did everything I could to help him evacuate before American forces left the country. I was in contact with him when he went to the airport every day, trying to get his family on a flight out. Zee survived the Abbey Gate IED blast that killed thirteen U.S. service members and at least 170 Afghans, and he and his family were forced to live in hiding for two years before arrangements could be made to get them out. During those years they suffered unimaginable hardships, living constantly in fear without any guarantee they would ever escape.

Now that Zee and his family are in America, they will start their lives over and have a long road of acclimation and adjustment ahead of them. They are currently living in a hotel, and the next steps are permanent housing, jobs, school for the kids, and adjusting to American life. Any money raised will go directly to the family for day-to-day living expenses including permanent housing, furniture, food, clothes, school supplies, a car, and other necessities for starting a new life. They are finally safe and able to focus on the future, and my goal is to make this as seamless a transition as possible.

Zee served our country for years in Afghanistan, and we owe him and his family a debt of gratitude. Whatever you can contribute will be greatly appreciated and will go directly to their family.