Afghanistan: Canada announces to take in 20,000 refugees

Canada has announced to expand its resettlement program “to bring more Afghans to safety” and take in about 20,000 refugees.

“The Government of Canada continues to be deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and the risks it poses for many vulnerable Afghans.”

The announcement according to the Canadian government comes in response to the growing humanitarian crisis and will “help ease the burden that Afghanistan’s neighbors are shouldering and offer these individuals a permanent home here,” the statement read.

“Offering refuge to the world’s most vulnerable speaks to who we are as Canadians, particularly in times of crisis. As more Afghan refugees continue to seek shelter in Canada, we’re redoubling our efforts to help 20,000 Afghans refugees – who remain vulnerable wherever they go – find safety here. The situation in Afghanistan is heartbreaking, and Canada will not stand idly by,” Minister of Immigration Marco Mendicino said.

He further announced that the Canadian government will do “everything it can to help,” and “the humanitarian program will welcome 20,000 Afghans targeted by the Taliban. The groups will include: Women leaders, human rights defenders, journalists, persecuted minorities, LGBTQI members, and family of previously resettled interpreters,” he added.

This comes in after the US and other forces landed in Afghanistan to begin the evacuation of their embassy staff as a Taliban invasion of Kabul looks imminent, with the militants taking control of half of the provincial capitals, surrounding the Afghan capital and capturing vital trade and choke points.

The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan will only grow and with the armament of militias by the Afghan government, another endless civil war looks inevitable, with the warlords already giving vital intel to the Taliban against each other, fears for tribal warfare between the warlords based over past actions and ethnicities are rising.