OTTAWA – Canada yesterday said it will take in up to 20,000 Afghan refugees, including women leaders, government workers and others facing threats from the Taliban, as the insurgents advance across the country seizing major cities.
“The situation in Afghanistan is heartbreaking, and Canada will not stand idly by,” Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino told a news conference.
The refugees will include “particularly vulnerable” Afghans still in the country or who have already fled to neighbouring states, which, in addition to female leaders and government employees, also comprise human rights defenders, persecuted minorities and journalists.
Several aircraft carrying asylum seekers have already departed, with the first one landing in Toronto yesterday, said Mendicino.
As the Taliban advances on the Afghan capital of Kabul, officials said Canadian special forces form part of a contingency plan to airlift Canadian embassy staff, but details were not provided due to the sensitive nature of the security operation.
Earlier yesterday, many countries, including Spain, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands, announced the withdrawal of staff from their respective embassies.
Canada said it is monitoring the situation in Afghanistan “very closely” and working with its allies on the ground.
“Protecting the Canadian embassy and our staff is our top priority,” said Foreign Minister Marc Garneau.
On Twitter, he said Canada “owes Afghans a debt of gratitude, and we will continue our efforts to bring them to safety”. – AFP, August 14, 2021
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