Thousands to be eligible under new Canadian program to resettle former Afghan interpreters threatened by the Taliban
Ottawa won’t exclude the extended families of current and former local staff in Afghanistan from its emergency resettlement plan as threats and violence by the Taliban continue to intensify, says Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino.
On Friday, Ottawa launched a long-overdue plan to evacuate interpreters and civilians such as cooks, cleaners, drivers, security guards, construction workers and others who helped the Canadian militaries and at its embassy, along with their families.
“In setting the parameters of the program, we’re trying to be flexible and inclusive,” Mendicino told a news conference. “My expectation is that we will see several thousands, who will be eligible under the program.”
The Trudeau government had been criticized for not having a plan to help the Afghan interpreters and civilians who worked for Canada, while its U.S. and coalition allies have been evacuating their local staff for their safety in the face of the Taliban’s encroachment.
