Canada welcomes more Afghan refugees, give $1 million assistant

Ottawa: The Government of Canada is continuing to welcome at least 40,000 Afghan nationals and over the past week, 335 government-assisted and privately sponsored Afghan refugees arrived in Canada on 10 commercial flights.

They are destined for communities all across Canada, including Calgary, Winnipeg and Sherbrooke. To date, a total of 7,885 Afghan nationals have arrived in Canada.

Arrivals include refugees approved through the special immigration program for Afghans who assisted the Government of Canada, privately sponsored refugees, and refugees referred by the United States, Front Line Defenders and the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Canadians have played an active role in welcoming Afghan refugees in their communities. Since August 2021, Canadians have given more than $1 million; have donated over 200,000 goods, including children’s toys, clothing, and personal care products; and have opened their homes with more than 5,000 offers of temporary accommodations. The Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS), a Resettlement Assistance Program service provider (RAP SPO) in Calgary, is coordinating volunteers and donations on behalf of all 34 RAP SPOs across Canada that are welcoming Afghan refugees into their communities.

“It has been heartwarming to watch communities welcome Afghan refugees. Over the past several months, Canadians across the country have stepped up to provide a warm welcome to some of the world’s most vulnerable, and their generosity through donations and volunteering continues to be truly remarkable.” said Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.