Help Hashmat and his family survive another 6 mo.

 

Hashmat escaped Kabul in August of 2021 with his wife and three children. Just in time. The Taliban came looking for him. He had been an American student (M.A. Global Affairs at FDU). He worked for several American-sponsored projects in Afghanistan. He was, and is, an outspoken critic of the Taliban.

His supporters pay 1800 a month for his family's room and board in a safe house. (That's a pretty good deal.) H e will be there until he is processed as a refugee by the US State Department and brought to the US, or to another country.

He has submitted all his applications for refugee status but must wait... and wait... and, the fact is, the US State Department is understaffed with processors and overwhelmed with refugee applications. While he waits, he cannot work and receives no assistance from the US or UN. We are his lifeline. 

Why did we help him escape? Hashmat has been for several years a human rights activist in Kabul. He assisted with lectures about human rights at the Afghan Military Academy, and he worked for the U.S. Institute for Peace in Afghanistan. In addition, he was given media credentials by The Talk of San Diego for a public affairs show that appears on 22 channels in a variety of languages in 135 countries. Of course, we know him at FDU because he tele-commuted for more than a year to our master's program in Global Affairs. Read his story here: https://www.fdu.edu/news/fdu-community-helps-one-of-its-own/

 

Hashmat qualifies for the U.S. special refugee program on three counts: he was locally employed as an interpreter; he worked for a U.S.-funded program; and he worked with U.S.-based media and non-governmental organizations. But he will have to wait... 

The math is this: we pay $1800 a month for "life support" which means lodging, board, and some basic medical care for his family of five. (ASLO SEE the FAQ BELOW.)

He and his family need our support. I'm the Director of FDU's School of Public and Global Affairs. I just put in another $500. Your donation is needed and appreciated.

FAQ:

How much would you like to raise?

We need to raise enough to hold him over until he is relocated to the U.S.A., Spain, or Germany with asylum.

How much does it cost to support Hashmat?

We pay 1800/month for room, board, and some basic medical service, and we pay $75 for the wire transfer each time.

Do I need to “tip” GoFundMe?

No!

How are the donations handled and sent to Hashmat?

Donations are automatically transferred from GoFundMe to a bank account at Citizens Bank in Madison, NJ. We receive a regular invoice for “life support” and wire money from Hashmat’s account at Citizens to a bank account on the invoice.

When will Hashmat and his family be able to move?

We were told when he first filed as a refugee that the process would take approximately 18 months. We are well beyond 18 months. And the US State Department admits it is well behind in processing refugees. The crisis in Ukraine, where Russia invaded in February 2022 and created millions more of refugees, has only made the whole apparatus slower.