Catholic Charities OKC Employee Helping Afghan Refugees in Virginia

At least one Oklahoman is on the ground in Virginia helping Afghan refugees fleeing to safety in America.

She works for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City (CCAOKC) and is helping Afghan evacuees finish their processing in Fort Lee, Virginia before they travel to their next destinations. CCAOKC said it has two other employees who have been approved to help with the situation.

Refugee flights have already begun landing at Dulles Airport outside of Washington, D.C. The Pentagon said right now Afghan evacuees are going to four military bases: in Wisconsin, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia.

CCAOKC said it could not elaborate on exactly what its employee is doing to help, but said she has been at Fort Lee for about a week and will likely stay another week or possibly longer. The Pentagon said the total number of Afghans currently at military installations is about 1,200, with the goal to build out capacity for 25,000 people.

"...it's going to take days and weeks I think for all four to be able to combine to get to that level, but that's the goal as we are right now,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said.

CCAOKC said right now the U.S. government has not indicated any Afghan refugees will be relocated to Oklahoma, but the organization said that could change, and said it is ready and willing to help.