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Canada provides $15 million aid for Afghan refugees
The Canadian Immigration Ministry has announced that it will provide $15 million in financial aid to support vulnerable Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Central Asian countries.
Mark Miller, the Canadian Immigration Minister, stated at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva on Saturday that this aid would be made available to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This announcement highlights Canada’s collaborative efforts with international organizations to aid refugees.
Miller stressed that the funds are allocated to meet the needs of Afghan refugees in host countries. This move is a part of Canada’s broader strategy to support displaced individuals where they currently reside.
“The Government of Canada has committed to providing CAN$21 million (US$15 million) in grant funding over three years (from 2022–2023 to 2024–2025) to support the IOM’s Comprehensive Action Plan. This funding advances Canada’s commitment to support displaced Afghans.
“Activities funded to date focus on helping government and local organizations respond to the protection, health and integration needs of Afghan refugees in their communities in five countries neighboring Afghanistan: Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan,” the document said.
According to Miller, the Canadian government intends to settle more than 136,000 refugees over the next three years. This ambitious plan underlines Canada’s role as a leading nation in refugee resettlement.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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