More than 30,000 Afghan refugees have now arrived in Canada, the federal government says, surpassing a milestone in its program to bring thousands of Afghans here after the Taliban takeover – many, however, remain left behind.
The latest arrivals, about 300 on a flight from Pakistan, landed in Toronto Wednesday, according to a news release from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). They included those who supported Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan, family members of former Afghan interpreters, and privately sponsored refugees who are coming through a humanitarian program.
After the Taliban seized control of the country in August, 2021, the Liberal government announced its special resettlement program for Afghans who worked for Canada. Ottawa also established a humanitarian resettlement program for Afghans vulnerable to Taliban persecution, such as human-rights defenders and LGBTQ people. Ottawa has promised to bring at least 40,000 Afghans to Canada by the end of this year.
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said in the news release that he is proud to mark a “significant milestone” by welcoming more than 30,000 vulnerable Afghans to their new home.
“This is an ambitious achievement as we work towards our goal of resettling at least 40,000 Afghans by the end of 2023,” he said.
But many Afghans remain stranded inside Afghanistan, or in neighbouring Pakistan, and have waited more than a year for a flight to Canada without having received any explanation for the delay.