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Mauritians Mauritanian asylees, mostly men who have been imprisoned and tortured by the minority Maur government, began coming to Central Ohio in the mid-1990s. There are an estimated 900 Mauritanian asylees living in Columbus. They qualify to have their wives and children join them, and most are going through the immigration process to do so. As their families join them, their numbers are expected to increase rapidly. Wives and children of those already here can be expected to multiply the need for services. Mauritanians live in two principal locations in Columbus. They are noticeably averse to being dependent on public benefits. Other Africans There are small communities of other African refugees in Central Ohio, from Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Congo, Sudan and Liberia. All have fled civil wars, and in many cases suffered atrocities based on their ethnic, political, or religious affiliation. Each community numbers at least a hundred. It is expected that these communities will increase in number given the area's highly favorable employment market and low cost of living, and as relatives join those already settled here. Like other refugees, these groups tend to live and associate with others who share their culture and language. Some come from French-speaking countries, such as Rwandans and Congolese, and require English as a Second Language. Most of the smaller African refugee communities do not make use of public benefits, and seek agency services primarily for help in finding employment. |