LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Indiana is preparing for the first of thousands of refugees from Afghanistan to arrive at Camp Atterbury in just a few days.
State officials said the first 1,000 refugees are expected to arrive by the end of this week.
In total, about 5,000 refugees are expected at the Indiana National Guard camp in Edinburgh, Indiana. That's about 35 miles south of Indianapolis.
"We need to be there for folks who were there for us, period," Gov. Eric Holcomb said. "We've got to make sure we're using everything at our disposal to welcome folks here, who we sure welcomed their help."
The state said more than 800 service members from Fort Hood, Texas, will join those already in the state to offer support for the refugees, including transportation and temporary housing. Before arriving at the camp, the state said the refugees will be medically examined and their visa statuses vetted.
State officials said they expect the majority of the refugees to relocate to another state.
"Depending on their visa status and where they are in the vetting process, we'll then resettle them throughout the United States," said Brig. Gen. R. Dale Lyles, the adjutant general of Indiana. "That's what we think will happen once they come to Camp Atterbury, once they go through that medical process. Single digit weeks is what has been described to us."
Once at the camp, refugees will be required to quarantine and offered vaccinations for COVID-19 and other viruses such as measles and polio. The state said the camp is also equipped with its own medical equipment and staff in order to reduce strain on local hospitals.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (left) and Brig. Gen. R. Dale Lyles, the adjutant general of Indiana (right)
"In light of the fact that we are having a higher positivity rate in COVID, we understand emergency wait times are higher than normal," Lyles said. "We do not want to pressure local hospitals."
Families at the camp are going to be kept together with separate housing units for males and females. State officials said the housing units are air conditioned and equipped with their own restrooms.
Lyles said at this time, there is no indication that this mission has made the camp a target for any sort of violence or attacks, but he added that security measures have been heightened.
Camp Atterbury joins seven other bases around the country providing support for about 50,000 Afghan refugees.
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