Moore County holds 3rd Annual Refugee Conference

Dumas, TX - Today (Jan. 28) was the 3rd Annual County Refugee Conference that is designed for organizations and others who provide services and programs for refuges's in Moore County.

"It kind of hard to learn the language," said Refugee, Musaab Alkhaytt.

Alkhaytt moved to the panhandle in 2008 from Bagdad and over the years has adjusted to this new culture in Moore county.

"As soon as I arrived to the U.S., I spoke English, I started working as an interpreter and then became a case manager with Catholic Charities, and an employment case worker with RST," said Alkhaytt.

Moore County has become known for having a large number of refugees. At first the county wasn't sure how to handle it, but over the years they've adapted to the situation.

"Now we're to the point where they've mixed in to the blending pot and it's kind of normal now, we're okay. It shook us up enough that everybody wanted to be involved and that worked out really well," said Moore County Judge, Rowdy Rhoads.

At the refugee conference many community members, organizations and refugees came out to talk about what refugee's go through when they first move to the united states and adapt to a new modern society.

"In this group right now there's pastors, people in the school district, medical workers, and all kinds of different people from the community that work in the community that are very interesting in helping refugees in this county," said Area Director for Refugee Services of Texas, Fabian Talamante.

Although there are still communication issues, county officials are trying to close that gap so that these new member's of the community are comfortable.

"That's one of the great things about Moore county is they really have accepted that these folks are part of the community. So, I think that really helps them, knowing that people are working for them and not against them," said Talamante.

Which is something many refugees appreciate.

"The United States of America is a very good country for me comparing with my country. There is freedom here," said refugee Kap Khan Tung.

The Texas Department of State Health Services was also at the conference to talk about proper vaccines for refugees.