Canada will take in up to 20,000 Afghan refugees, including women leaders, government workers and others facing threats from the Taliban.
Canadian Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said, “The situation in Afghanistan is heartbreaking and Canada will not stand idly by.”
“Several planeloads of asylum seekers have already departed with the first one landing in Toronto on Friday,” Mendicino continued.
Canadian special forces have a contingency plan to airlift Canadian embassy staff in case the Taliban storm Kabul.
Many countries including Spain, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands have announced the withdrawal of staff from their respective embassies in Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Marc Garneau said, “Protecting the Canadian embassy and our staff is our top priority. Canada owes Afghans a debt of gratitude and we will continue our efforts to bring them to safety.”
