FORT MCCOY, Wis. – An Afghan refugee in the Fort McCoy resettlement program said some refugees are going hungry. He sent a photo to television WKBT in LaCrosse showing a modest scoop of cottage cheese and a four watermelon cubes. “More than 100 people go to bed without getting any food,” said A.J., who wanted his name shielded because he has family in possible danger back in Afghanistan. A.J. identified himself as a combat linguist for NATO and the United States for seven years. He has been at Fort McCoy 10 days. Federal officials running the Fort McCoy program have denied news reporters to have access to refugees and have even limited reports on how many refugees are at the post. Reportedly there are 12,500. A.J. said meals like the ones in his photo to WKBT are typical breakfast and dinner. Sometimes, he said, the cafeteria runs entirely out of food and turns adults refugees away. “Some American military guys in the Red Cross office, they say we were not prepared,” A.J. told WKBT. One of them straight away said we were not expecting you guys to come so quickly here.”
Dinner of estimated 130 calories. Refugee reports food shortage at Fort McCoy.