Canada to Resume Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan by Spring 2024

Canada plans to resume humanitarian aid to Afghanistan by spring 2024, according to a Global News report on April 27, 2024. The Canadian government intends to initiate the process by 2024 and achieve full operational capacity by the end of the year, addressing a crisis affecting over 23 million people, including 12.3 million children.

Afghanistan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to natural disasters, insecurity, food shortages, and economic collapse. The situation has been worsened by forced deportations of Afghan returnees from neighboring countries, who face challenges such as inadequate shelter, limited access to clean water, insufficient medical care, and lack of job opportunities. Heavy rainfall in late March 2024 has also caused significant damage to agricultural land, homes, and critical infrastructure across several provinces.

Despite these challenges, the humanitarian response has largely prevented a catastrophe, but the situation remains extremely difficult for Afghans, with drought and economic instability being the primary drivers of need. Afghanistan is also susceptible to epidemic-prone diseases, with a rising trend in suspected measles cases and acute respiratory infections.

The delay in implementing the new aid system has been frustrating for humanitarian organizations, as other countries moved more quickly to unblock aid flows. The Canadian government has faced criticism for not acting swiftly to create exemptions to terrorism financing laws, which has prevented aid workers from providing assistance. While a blanket exemption for humanitarian workers has been passed, the government has yet to provide clarity on the distinction between humanitarian and development work, leaving aid groups confused about which projects they can undertake.

Why this matters: The resumption of Canadian humanitarian aid to Afghanistan is vital in addressing the dire situation affecting millions of people, particularly women and children. As a country that has been involved in Afghanistan for two decades, Canada has a responsibility to support the Afghan people in their time of need.

The Canadian government has budgeted $5 million to vet the permits for the new authorization regime, aiming to launch it by spring 2024 and achieve full operational capacity by late 2024. Senators and advocacy groups have urged the government to act more quickly, arguing that Canadians have a special duty to the Afghan people after the country's long involvement in Afghanistan. UNICEF Afghanistan has expressed gratitude for the contributions received from donors, including Sweden and the United Arab Emirates, which will enable the organization to continue responding to the rising and sudden needs in the country.

Key Takeaways

• Canada plans to resume humanitarian aid to Afghanistan by spring 2024.
• Afghanistan faces a severe crisis due to natural disasters, insecurity, and economic collapse.
• Delays in implementing new aid system have frustrated humanitarian organizations.
• Canada has budgeted $5M to vet permits for the new authorization regime.
• UNICEF Afghanistan grateful for contributions from donors like Sweden and UAE.