Canada earmarks $39.5M for Afghanistan aid

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) – Canada said Thursday it was sending CAN$50 million ($39.5 million) in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan as the government announced it was leaving the war-torn country.

"This new funding will come from Canadian international assistance resources and is in addition to the $27.3 million in humanitarian assistance already allocated for Afghanistan in 2021," said a statement from Global Affairs Canada obtained by Anadolu Agency.

The money comes as the charitable International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued an "urgent appeal" on Thursday for US$24 million to meet "acute humanitarian needs in Afghanistan."

The organization said more than 5 million people have been internally displaced and are reliant on humanitarian aid.

"We are working to mobilize a scaled-up response to the most pressing, life-saving needs,” IOM Afghanistan Chief of Mission Stuart Simpson said on the group's website.

“Our humanitarian activities continue where possible, depending on access and security. Large-scale displacement driven by conflict and drought, and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, are increasing poverty and food insecurity, generating massive humanitarian and protection needs in the country,” he said.

Simpson said people need shelter, water, sanitation, health services and protection, adding that 550,000 have been displaced this year alone, and almost half fled their homes in July.

“Inadequate shelter and insufficient access to sanitation and health facilities have resulted in extremely precarious living conditions for affected families,” said Simpson. “Our response is dependent on unimpeded access and guarantees for the safety of all staff.”

Canada announced evacuation flights were finished Thursday because of the unstable and dangerous conditions in proximity to the Kabul airport. It also acknowledged that thousands of Afghans it had hoped to bring to Canada have been left behind.

Canada said it will provide more humanitarian aid money if it is needed and will ensure that the funds are targeted to those who need it and not siphoned to "other actors or for other purposes."

"It is imperative that this support reach the people who need it the most. We strongly urge all parties to allow rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to populations in need," it said.