Afghan-Canadians, aid advocates urge Canada to support earthquake relief efforts & More News Here

Canada has not but contributed to disaster-relief efforts in Afghanistan one week after the nation was hit by its deadliest earthquake in 20 years, although aid advocates say Ottawa’s designation of the Taliban as a terrorist group could inadvertently complicate the facilitation of funds.

Last week’s 5.9-magnitude earthquake killed an estimated 770 folks, injured 1,500 and affected one other 250,000 Afghans in a distant southeastern area close to the Pakistani border. The catastrophe worsens an already difficult humanitarian disaster, together with famine and a collapsing well being system, that has devastated Afghanistan because the Taliban took energy final August.

The Taliban have referred to as on worldwide governments to elevate a freeze on central-bank belongings and roll again sanctions within the aftermath of the earthquake, however many Western nations proceed to shun the group over issues about human-rights abuses.

The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs issued a $110-million emergency attraction for earthquake relief efforts in Afghanistan and has to this point raised $45-million, together with funds from the United States, Britain and South Korea. The United Arab Emirates, China, India, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have additionally introduced in-kind contributions. Canada is going through calls to contribute as properly.

Taliban, U.S. officers to meet for talks amid ongoing earthquake relief efforts in Afghanistan

“We are appealing for urgent support from the international community, including Canada, to meet pressing humanitarian needs resulting from the earthquake. This is just the latest calamity compounding a dire situation so many Afghans are already facing,” mentioned Rema Jamous Imseis, the UN Refugee Agency’s consultant to Canada.

Global Affairs Canada mentioned that whereas Ottawa is coordinating with like-minded nations on a world response, it has circuitously contributed to earthquake-relief efforts.

“At this time, beyond the humanitarian funding that has already been provided, Canada has not directly contributed to the earthquake response. We continue to look at options on how we can best support the people of Afghanistan,” spokesperson Christelle Chartrand mentioned in an announcement Tuesday.

Afghanistan’s ambassador to Canada, Hassan Soroosh, has remained in Ottawa because the Taliban took over final 12 months however has no traces of communication with Kabul. He mentioned it’s comprehensible that Canada hasn’t instantly responded to the earthquake, given the “restrictions” posed by the Taliban’s rule.

Canada’s Anti-terrorism Act, an modification to the Criminal Code, makes it unlawful for Canadian funds to find yourself within the arms of terrorists. The Taliban are on Canada’s terrorist watch listing and outlawed by Ottawa, though they now run Afghanistan.

Since final August, Canada has contributed $156-million in humanitarian help to support weak populations in Afghanistan and surrounding nations; that cash helps a spread of reliable organizations, such because the UN, to make sure the funding doesn’t find yourself within the arms of the Taliban.

Children Without Borders, an Afghan-Canadian group addressing youngster labour in Afghanistan, mentioned Canada can keep away from issues posed by its anti-terrorism regulation by contributing to the UN attraction.

“I understand that the government would not want to help and associate themselves with the Taliban … but there’s a lot of other organizations that can help,” mentioned Naqib Sarwary, Children Without Borders’ board director. “Canada should step up.”

Adeena Niazi, founder and government director of the Toronto-based Afghan Women’s Organization, mentioned harmless Afghans impacted by the catastrophe shouldn’t be “punished” due to the Taliban’s rule. She mentioned Canada wants to discover a means round its anti-terrorism regulation so it may present much-needed support for the earthquake response, similar to gear to get well the victims.

“I am surprised and I am also sad because I know that people are still trapped under the rubble. There is no equipment, there are no helicopters. Some of them, they are digging with their hands to get them [the victims] out,” she mentioned.

A current House of Commons report on Afghanistan really helpful the federal government exempt Canadian aid teams from the anti-terrorism regulation to allow them to ship humanitarian aid to the nation with out worry of prosecution. The U.S. took an analogous step final 12 months, authorizing the federal government and its contractors to facilitate humanitarian aid in Afghanistan regardless of sanctions towards the Taliban. NDP worldwide improvement critic Heather McPherson urged the Liberals to observe go well with.

“In the face of a humanitarian disaster from a massive earthquake, and growing food insecurity, the federal government is not taking simple steps that could clear roadblocks for Canadian aid to reach Afghan people desperately in need of our help,” she mentioned.

Conservative worldwide improvement critic Garnett Genuis mentioned that whereas he acknowledges the authorized challenges for Canada, “the government has been far too complacent about the situation and has failed to take action to make it easier for humanitarian organizations to deliver vital support to the Afghan people.”

The Liberal authorities has additionally confronted heavy criticism in current months over its gradual method to its dedication to resettle 40,000 Afghan refugees; about 16,000 have arrived in Canada since final August.

Children Without Borders has dispatched just a few members of its Kabul-based group to the mountainous space impacted by the earthquake. Mr. Sarwary mentioned individuals are residing out within the open, as their conventional mud homes had been destroyed, and are in determined want of fundamental gadgets similar to blankets, tents, meals and hygiene kits.

With experiences from Reuters

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