During that time, VPP partnered with other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and charities to evacuate more than 1,000 Afghan refugees to safer, temporary new locations outside Afghanistan. These new locations, known as “lily pads” — a term that refers to temporary landing grounds on military bases or at safe houses in nearby countries — have been plagued by questions of international law, making permanent resettlement a difficult and protracted task, and requiring the maintenance of long-term safe houses.
Interest in the cause of Afghan refugees reached its peak when groups such as The Nazarene fund raised $28 million for assistance evacuating the country’s Christians — some 10,000 in all, according to official 2016 estimates by the U.S. Department of State — to lily pads. Slowly, however, charities and other NGOs have moved on from Afghanistan, leaving just the Jewish Aliph Foundation, Pilgrim USA, and VPP active in the region.
Prince Wafa, an American citizen born in Afghanistan, was left behind by the Biden administration until he was able to connect with Jones.
Now, since becoming a successful businessman in San Diego, he is committed to the VPP “to do everything we can to give food to people who cannot leave their homes for security reasons. They are targets of the Taliban, and that is why they can not go out [of their homes]. We provide them food and shelter so that they can survive,” he told CNA.
“We also help Christians that have been able to go to another country and need to stay low in safe houses,” he said.
The Biden administration’s decision to leave Afghanistan “destroyed 20 years of sacrifices in both nations,” Wafa said. It is crucial to help Christians with time and money because “the Taliban target Christians for the only reason that they do not worship God as they do,” he said.
Credit: Source link