The hum of Afghan children’s laughter, chatter and playful squeals could be heard throughout the streets of Fort McCoy U.S. Army base in western Wisconsin Thursday morning.
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Volunteer Sandra Hoeser plays frisbee with Afghan refugees at the Ft. McCoy U.S. Army base Thursday in Fort McCoy. The fort is one of eight military installations across the country that are temporarily housing the tens of thousands of Afghans who were forced to flee their homeland in August after the U.S. withdrew its forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban took control.
Afghan refugees stand outside housing in the Village, where they are temporarily living at the Fort McCoy military base in Wisconsin Thursday. The fort is one of eight military installations across the country that are temporarily housing the tens of thousands of Afghans who were forced to flee their homeland in August after the U.S. withdrew its forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban took control.
Young Afghan refugees walk through the Village at the Fort McCoy military base in western Wisconsin Thursday. The nearly 13,000 Afghans are staying in barracks-style housing, with roughly 60 people sleeping in a two-story building.
A young refugee stands outside temporary housing at the base. Nearly half of the 12,600 Afghans at the base are children.
An Afghan refugee tries on shoes at a donation center at Fort McCoy Thursday.
U.S. Military Police walk past Afghan refugees in a neighborhood inside the fort.
Abdulhadi Pageman, a helicopter pilot who helped support the U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, said fellow pilots were assassinated.
Farzana Mohammadi, an Afghan national wheelchair basketball team player and Paralympic athlete, says she is excited for the opportunities she will have in the U.S.
Photos: Afghan refugees at Wisconsin's Fort McCoy receive clothing donations
Fort McCoy donations
Three Afghan evacuees look thorough women’s pants at a donation facility run by U.S. Soldiers and civilians at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Sept. 7, 2021. Led by Team Rubicon, several local nonprofits are accepting clothing and other donations for the refugees. Many evacuees have arrived with only one set of clothing.
Fort McCoy donations
An Afghan evacuee holds up a pair of donated children’s pants to see if they will fit her child at a donation facility at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin Sept. 7, 2021. Fort McCoy is one of eight U.S. military bases that will temporarily house vulnerable Afghans who have fled Afghanistan after the recent collapse of the government to the Taliban.
Fort McCoy donations
Afghan evacuees look through shoes at a donation facility run by U.S. Soldiers and civilians at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin Sept. 7, 2021. Led by Team Rubicon, several local nonprofits are accepting clothing and other donations for the refugees. Many evacuees have arrived with only one set of clothing.
Fort McCoy donations
An Afghan evacuee examines a piece of clothing covered with butterflies and trees at a donation facility run by U.S. Soldiers and civilians at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin Sept. 7, 2021. The Department of Defense is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan refugees fleeing from Afghanistan after the collapse of the country's government to the Taliban.
Fort McCoy donations
U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon Boriboun folds clothing for Afghan evacuees at a donation facility run by U.S. Soldiers and civilians at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Sept. 7, 2021. Led by Team Rubicon, several local nonprofits are accepting clothing and other donations for the refugees. Many evacuees have arrived with only one set of clothing.
Fort McCoy donations
An Afghan evacuee child is given a new backpack and coloring book during the reception process at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin Sept. 3, 2021. The Department of Defense is providing support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees who have fled from Afghanistan after the recent collapse of the country's government to the Taliban.
