Canada to resettle Afghan refugees amid Taliban's attack

In the wake of the Taliban's attack in Afghanistan, Canada announced on Friday (local time) that it is expanding a program to resettle 20,000 Afghan refugees.

Canadian Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced on Friday that the program will welcome 20,000 Afghans, focus will be on those who belong to groups vulnerable to persecution by the Taliban such as women leaders, human rights workers and reporters.

"Canada will build on its earlier special immigration programme to welcome over 20,000 vulnerable Afghan refugees. Our efforts will focus on those who are particularly vulnerable, including women leaders," said Marco Mendicino, Canadian Minister of Immigration, RefugeesCitizenship.

The refugees will come through the United Nations as well as family and private sponsorships, with Sajjan saying one Sikh group in Canada had already signed an agreement with the government sponsoring several hundred Sikh and Hindu families that have fled Afghanistan.

Also read: Taliban captures Afghanistan’s 2nd largest-city Kandahar: reports

Mendicino and the other ministers meanwhile insisted immigration officials were continuing to process the applications of what Canadian veterans say are hundreds of former interpreters, cultural advisers, drivers, cleaners and others who helped Canada and are now in danger.

According to Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Canadian special forces were deployed in Afghanistan and were assisting the relocation effort, though he did not provide any further details.

“The challenges on the ground are quite immense. The security situation that is deteriorating is making this quite difficult,” said Sajjan.

The minister said that their work to resettle the Afghan interpreters as well as the staff that assisted in Canada’s mission there will “continue in the coming days and weeks,” but also did not offer a specific timeline.

Also read: Taliban remained only 50 km away from Kabul, captured 18 provinces of Afghanistan

“We know that there are many other Afghans who need our help, including those who have fled Afghanistan and remain outside of the country.”

The Taliban made rapid advances in Afghanistan this week, toppling six provincial capitals in 24 hours. According to news agencies citing the local media, the insurgents seized both the second and the third biggest cities in the country on Friday, as resistance from government forces crumbled and fears grew that an assault on the capital Kabul could be just days away.

Also read: Afghanistan: Taliban just 130KM away from Kabul, Captured 10th Province Ghazni