Canada has taken in over 30,000 Afghan refugees since August 2021, and the federal government plans to resettle at least 40,000 more by the end of 2023.
The latest refugees arrived on a charter flight from Pakistan and landed in Toronto. The group includes “Afghans who supported Canada’s mission in Afghanistan, family members of former Afghan interpreters, and privately sponsored refugees arriving through the humanitarian stream,” according to the Immigration Department.
“This is an ambitious achievement as we work towards our goal of resettling at least 40,000 Afghans by the end of 2023,” Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said.
“Although the Afghanistan resettlement effort is one of the largest and most difficult in Canada’s history, we remain committed to maximizing every opportunity to support these vulnerable Afghans in their transition to a better life in Canada.”
“Welcoming refugees is an integral part of who we are,” he added.
According to the department, Canada’s humanitarian resettlement program is “focused on resettling the most vulnerable Afghans, including woman leaders, human rights defenders, persecuted and religious minorities, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals and journalists.”
The new immigrants will be settled in Surrey, B.C.; Toronto; and London, Ontario, as well as other communities. So far, at least 170 communities across Canada have been a destination for the refugees.
The Immigration Department said many Afghans face risks in attempting to leave the country or cannot leave without assistance. There is no Canadian diplomatic or military presence in Afghanistan.
Canada is collaborating with the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and other countries, as well as international organizations.
The government has designated 18,000 spaces for Afghan nationals and their families who assisted the Canadian government, and up to 5,000 extended family members of Afghan interpreters who have already entered Canada as part of other programs.
The government said the refugees it assists become permanent residents upon arrival in Canada. They receive at least 12 months of income support under the Resettlement Assistance Program and will have access to settlement services, including language training and the Interim Federal Health Program for medical coverage.
At the time, Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendico said Canada’s commitment to helping the people of Afghanistan “did not end with the fall of Kabul.”
“Whether providing aid or welcoming refugees, we are there for vulnerable Afghans—while always strongly condemning the Taliban’s violence, misogyny and disregard for human rights,” he said.
“Canada has a proud history of offering refuge and assistance to the world’s most vulnerable. The fall of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan created a unique and dire situation for the people in Afghanistan,” said the government in March. “We are joining our allies in fulfilling obligations contained in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2615,” it said.
Immigration said that according to the U.N., a total of 28.3 million people (two-thirds of the Afghan population) need humanitarian assistance in 2023, an increase of 16 percent since 2022.
Canada said it also provided over $70 million for basic services, including health, to Afghan people in 2022/23.
