One month after arrival at Fort McCoy: Afghan refugees and concerning reports out of Wisconsin
Food and supply shortages, lack of access to clean clothes, harassment on list of concerns
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
It’s been a little over a month since refugees fleeing Afghanistan started arriving at Fort McCoy, one of eight United States military bases tasks with housing the more than 50,000 Afghans seeking refuge from the Taliban.
Fort McCoy, located 40 miles east of La Crosse, Wis., has the space to house 13,000 people. Right now, 12,500 Afghan refugees are living on the base while they wait to find out what will happen to them after their country’s government fell to Taliban forces in August.
According to Emily Hamer, a county government and criminal justice reporter with the Wisconsin State Journal, a few lawmakers including Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers have been given access to Fort McCoy and its facilities. These tours came after corroborated reports from refugees who spoke to the Wisconsin State Journal about conditions on the base.
“They have had to wait for several hours in line for food, sometimes up to six hours,” Hamer said. “And then when they get to the end of the line, sometimes there would be no food left.”
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
There is also a concern about access to supplies, like clean clothes. One of the refugees she spoke to said she was still wearing the same clothes she had on when she left the Kabul airport, including the same set of underwear.
“She thinks that led to her getting an infection,” Hamer told Wurzer Tuesday on Morning Edition.
Media has not been given access to Fort McCoy yet, and Hamer said she does not know of a timeline to give reporters access to the base. The Wisconsin State Journal reported volunteers working in and around the base have been discouraged from talking to reporters, making it difficult for media outlets to verify reports. The refugees who have spoken to the Wisconsin State Journal have asked for anonymity over fears of a negative reaction from those in leadership roles at Fort McCoy.
Last week, Minnesota U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar joined Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) in asking Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III to investigate claims of mistreatment that were brought to their offices.
While no definitive timeline has been given for the refugees and their time at Fort McCoy, Hamer said one woman was told it could take anywhere from two to six months to get her resettled outside the base. The Department of Homeland Security said the resettlement process will be different for every person but did not give any more insight into what the refugees might expect moving forward.
