The first Kosovar refugees to come to Iowa since the NATO bombings beganin their homeland are starting a new life in Des Moines. Afet and SharyeteBajrami arrived Tuesday. Wayne Johnson, chief of the Iowa Bureau of RefugeeServices, says the young married couple is settling in.Johnson says a sponsor has paid for an apartment for the couple and they’llhave three months to find jobs and make a home for themselves. Johnson sayswhile Mrs. Bajrami is a homemaker, Mr. Bajrami may be able to find agood-paying job quickly based on what he did in Kosovo.Johnson says he expects one or two refugee families to be placed in Iowaevery week through September. More may arrive by the weekend. He says thefirst half-dozen or so families will be placed in the Des Moines area.The refugees have the choice to either stay in the U-S for the rest of theirlives or to eventually return to Kosovo.
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