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Starting with only barber scissors, the barber said he reused Fort McCoy’s items to open a store for other evacuees.
Fort McCoy Military Base, Wisconsin, U.S.—— Mohammad* arrived in the United States from Afghanistan, hoping to continue his passion. However, in addition to razors and few external resources, Afghan barbers have to be creative.
As a result, Muhammad reused what he could find at the US military base in Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, where he and thousands of other Afghan refugees are waiting for their immigration case to be processed.
A camping bed became a chair for customers; a recycled spray bottle was used to moisturize the customer’s hair, and an American Red Cross bag that once contained a blanket was turned into a haircutting cloak.
Now Muhammad runs a makeshift barber shop on the grass outside the Fort McCoy barracks.
“In the beginning I didn’t have anything. I looked everywhere for what I could use. I bought a comb from the base store and started my service,” said Mohammed, who told Al Jazeera that he had a lot of free time at the base in his early years. Time, and eager to use his hair cutting skills.
The vast military facilities are dotted with two-story military camps with red roofs, each of which is home to multiple Afghan families. The spaces between buildings are often packed with children running around and playing.
Fort McCoy is a temporary home for nearly 13,000 Afghans who are waiting Immigration processing, After thousands of people fled Afghanistan Take over by the Taliban In August.
Mohammad’s shop is located on the lawn outside a military camp, where he walks during the day, staying in the shade of the white walls of the building.
Mohammad wears a pointed, well-maintained beard and his hair is tied back into a short knot. He said he is eager to turn his early efforts into a career after he finally leaves the base.
But for now, his haircut charges $10, and his facial shave charges $5. Mohammed said he saw an opportunity for this business, and thousands of Afghans stayed at the base and had nowhere to cut their hair or shave.
“People like the comfort in life; once I resettle in a state, I would love to have a suitable place and open a barber shop,” he told Al Jazeera.
Mohamed is from Ghazni Province in southeastern Afghanistan, but he lived in the capital Kabul until he left the country after the Taliban took over.
He and his family fled during a chaotic U.S.-led evacuation mission Taliban occupy Kabul. His sister is an American citizen and is visiting Afghanistan. She was able to take some of her immediate family members on an evacuation flight.
The Taliban entered Kabul in mid-August after the U.S. forces withdrew from the Afghan government and collapsed.
Nearly two weeks after the Taliban took over, the US military still controlled the airport.American armies evacuation More than 100,000 people, including American citizens, third-country nationals and Afghan allies.
U.S. officials said the country plans to accept 50,000 Afghans, Most of them were granted humanitarian parole, a program that allows entering the United States while processing evacuees’ permanent visas.
“Everyone wants to escape; they will do everything possible to leave Kabul,” Mohamed said.
Back at Fort McCoy, Ibrahim, one of Mohammed’s customers, contrasted the makeshift barbershop on the US base with the Taliban’s report that barbers were banned from shaving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
“I am very happy to be here and have all the freedom,” 26-year-old Ibrahim told Al Jazeera English.
*For security reasons, all interviewees used pseudonyms or names for identification.
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