The Canadian government recently announced that they will be accepting 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan in the light of the hostile takeover by Taliban forces. Canadian Immigration Minister, Marco Mendicino said that their main focus will be on resettling vulnerable groups under threat of prosecution by the Taliban. This includes individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, women leaders, human right activists and reporters.
What Is Canada Doing to Help Afghanistan?
The government of Canada is well aware of the increasing risks to vulnerable Afghans as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates. Many Afghans have already left the country. To mitigate this growing humanitarian crisis, the special immigration program for Afghans who worked with Canadian officials in Afghanistan will continue to help those stuck in the country.
In addition to that, the Canadian government will be introducing a new immigration pathway for vulnerable groups in Afghanistan who are eligible to come to Canada through existing resettlement programs. These groups include the following:
- LGBTQIA+ individuals
- Women leaders
- Human Rights Defenders
- Journalists
- Family members of previously resettled interpreters
- Sponsored by Existing family in Canada
