
IT promises to be a challenging military mission to get our Canadians home from Afghanistan. Courtesy photos.
A group called the Migrant Rights Network is calling on the Canadian government to take immediate action to support Afghan migrants and refugees in light of the chaos now taking place for those trying to flee Afghanistan.
The group warns that a Canadian election is underway for September 20 and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promise to relocate “as many Afghans as possible’” must come with urgent timelines.
There must also be “full government financial and logistical support, full rights and protections for those coming or already here.”
Tens of thousands of Afghan interpreters worked for Canadian, U.S. and other allies during the war in Afghanistan, and many are worried they will be targeted and killed by the Taliban.
“If my family get executed or any other family get executed, know that you have their blood on your hands,” one Afghan woman told CTV News.
“The only person who is going to be responsible for the murder, merciless murder of the interpreters in Afghanistan, that will be only — and only — the leader of this country and that’s going to be Justin Trudeau.”
The Prime Minister has said Canada is doing all in its power, including using a third country, to bring the interpreters and others safely to this country.
The MRN, which claims to be Canada’s largest migrant-led coalition, is calling for “immediate full passage by any means for all Afghans and their families, who may face reprisals, including women’s and human rights defenders and those who acted as interpreters, volunteers and employees in all roles with the Canadian military or government.”
“Documentation and application requirements must be waived in response to the dire situation under the new regime in Afghanistan,” the group said.
The MRN is also calling for the deportations of Afghans from Canada be stopped, including those to “safe third countries.”
The Network also want status granted to permanent residents from Afghanistan and their families, including undocumented migrants, current and failed refugee claimants, workers and students.
“The Canadian government must take full responsibility for resettlement, not download the burden to private for family sponsorships,” the MRN said in a statement.
They called on political parties to help relocate the Afghans.
“We call on all political parties to commit to ensure immediate and full equality, rights, and supports for all refugees and migrants, including workers, students, families and undocumented people,” they said.
Canada has resumed military flights into Kabul for the first time since closing its embassy. Two Canadian Armed Forces C-17s will now be making “regular flights” into the region as part of the exodus, Trudeau said.
There are at least 1,500 Afghan interpreters with up to 5,000 dependents on a waiting list for Canadian visas.
