In August 2021 the United States withdrew from Afghanistan after twenty years of war and occupation, forcing tens of thousands of Afghans who had worked with United States military forces and other governmental or non-governmental organizations to flee the country. UConn Global Affairs, the Asian and Asian American Studies Institute, Dodd Impact, the Human Rights Institute, and Middle East Studies came together on Thursday, September 23 to host a panel featuring Afghan perspectives on the past twenty years and the ongoing resettlement of refugees in the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

Panelist and UConn graduate Ahmad Wais Wardak, Ph.D. provided historical and geopolitical context for causes of forced Afghan migration dating back to 1979. Hossna Samadi, Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS) Ambassador reflected on the challenges refugees face when they enter the United States in search of safety and peace, noting many Afghan women entering Connecticut are from rural areas and need very particular forms of assistance. IRIS Case Manager Mohammad Daad Serweri focused on Connecticut as a model and highlighted the roles communities can play in welcoming Afghans and aiding in successful resettlement, saying “there is a role for every Connecticut citizen.”

The panel was moderated by Prof. Jeremy Pressman, Ph.D., Director of Middle East Studies and featured introductory and concluding remarks by Prof. Kathryn Libal, Ph.D., Director of the Human Rights Institute. Prof. Libal suggested audience members could become involved in local advocacy efforts on behalf of programs supporting refugees, could volunteer with local resettlement organizations such as IRIS, and encouraged those with ideas and questions to reach out to her via email.