Canada’s efforts in Afghanistan continue to intensify as individuals attempt to flee the Taliban-controlled country.
12 Canadian flights have departed Afghanistan thus far, transporting over 1000 Afghan nationals to safety, said Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, during a press conference on Sunday.
Those evacuated were considered the most vulnerable due to their work with Canada and allied countries.
“Our goal is clear it is to evacuate as many Canadians and vulnerable Afghans as possible for as long as the security situation will allow,” said Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The ministers recognized that the deteriorating situation near the Kabul airport has raised security concerns.
Canada’s efforts to aid those in Afghanistan have been scrutinized, as many question the slow pace of evacuation. Earlier this month, the Government of Canada announced they would resettle 20,000 vulnerable Afghans threatened by the Taliban and forced to flee Afghanistan.
“I have instructed that processing be accelerated, resources be added and that all red tape be cut without compromising security,” said Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
Mendicino outlined a new agreement that ensures those fleeing are evacuated expeditiously.
“We have reached an air bridge agreement that allows Canadian-bound Afghans to board allied air carriers and in turn, allied-bound Afghans to board Canadian planes,” said Mendicino.
“This means that Canada has the ability to leverage more evacuation capacity through the air bridge jointly established by the coalition.”
