It has been one year since Taliban fighters seized the Afghan capital of Kabul. The rapid takeover triggered a hasty escape of Afghan refugees, many of who are now living in Hamilton.

Shukrullah Mashkoor, his wife, and their 9 children arrived in Canada on August 12th of last year.

The 43-year-old worked in communications in Afghanistan. He is still unemployed here but is currently in school to learn English.

Mashkoor credits the Afghan Association of Hamilton with making his family’s transition to Canada easier.

About 350 Afghan refugees have come to Hamilton. Several of them are still in hotels waiting for housing. The Hamilton Afghan Association has helped more than 40 families so far.

The federal liberals are being criticized for bringing in just 17,300 refugees in the last year when they promised 40,000.

The director of the Afghan Association says the government needs to do more to help the refugees already here.