Burmese Refugees Reunite With Families In Tulsa

Burmese refugees arrived in Tulsa Thursday to be reunited with their families.

The 30 refugees were welcomed by family members and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Tulsa, who is responsible for helping them settle into their new lives in the United States. 

The refugees are an ethnic group called Zomi coming from the Chin State in Burma. 

All are Christians who have fled religious persecution, forced labor, violence and economic deprivation at the hands of the Buddhist military dictatorship, the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Tulsa said in a news release. 

The refugees were reunited with their families after being separated for up to 10 years.

Catholic Charities is contracted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to assist in the resettlement of refugees invited to the United States by the US State Department. 

They said they assist refugees with housing, transportation to health screenings, school enrollment, job placement and cultural orientation.