Canada to take in 20,000 Afghan refugees targeted by Taliban
- These include ‘particularly vulnerable’ Afghans such as women leaders, government employees, human rights defenders and journalists
- Several planeloads of asylum seekers have already departed with the first one landing in Toronto on Friday
Canada said on Friday it will take in up to 20,000 Afghan refugees, including women leaders, government workers and others facing threats from the Taliban, as insurgents advanced 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 women leaders and government employees also comprises human rights defenders, members of persecuted minorities and journalists.
Several planeloads of asylum seekers have already departed with the first one landing in Toronto on Friday, Mendicino said.
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Taliban seizes control of second-largest city Kandahar in key moment in Afghanistan conflict
As the Taliban advances on the capital Kabul, officials said Canadian special forces form part of a contingency plans to airlift Canadian embassy staff, but details were not provided due to the sensitive nature of the security operation.