THE UNKNOWN
HOW MANY CANADIAN CITIZENS AND ALLIES ABANDONED TO THEIR FATE? NO ONE KNOWS.
How many Canadians and our allies have been left behind, stranded in Afghanistan? No one really knows.
The speed with which the Taliban moved on Kabul, and the chaos that followed, means that Canadian officials do not have a clear picture of the people who want to come to Canada but are now likely trapped in Afghanistan.
And the best advice from the government to Canadians stranded is “Shelter in place.”
“Be mindful of the security environment and where possible take the necessary steps to ensure your security and that of your family,” reads a note sent to people who had registered with the government of Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad.
At a briefing Thursday, Wayne Eyre, acting chief of the defence staff, said Canada had airlifted to safety 3,700 Canadians, permanent residents, vulnerable Afghans and citizens of other countries.
At the same briefing, Daniel Mills, assistant deputy minister in Canada’s immigration ministry, said Canada had received 8,000 applications to come to the country.
But no one knows how many of those 8,000 had escaped to neighbouring countries, or might have been airlifted out by allies.
“It is important to note that of those 8,000 applications that we received, not everybody is in Afghanistan, some of them could be in the neighbouring countries,” said Mills.
“So we have to kind of look at our list and we will be in a better position to confirm exactly who’s still in Afghanistan in the upcoming days.”
Cindy Termorshuizen, assistant deputy minister at Global Affairs Canada, added, “We recognize that today’s announcement will be distressing news for those who are still in Afghanistan and wish to leave.
“We know that it will also be distressing for their families and loved ones and for all who have ties to Afghanistan.”
She said it would be a priority to gain a clearer picture of the remaining Canadians in Afghanistan in order to provide support.
However, logistics, such as whether civilian flights would even be allowed to fly out of Kabul, as well as the attitude of the incoming government, would present problems.
Once the military had pulled out of Kabul “what kind of airport will be available for civilian flights?” she asked. “So, understanding even what kind of transportation options are available is still quite difficult.”
She added, “Both the political and the security situation in Afghanistan are very fluid, we do not know what the next government will look like, what it will be comprised of, and what its approach will be to the departure of foreign nationals or Afghan nationals.
“And so those are the things that we are urgently working with allies to understand, understand those avenues of potential departure for those who still wish to leave, and then also gaining an understanding of what might be possible under a new government in Afghanistan, and the composition of that of course is also not clear. So all that to say, there is much that remains unknown.”
But Termorshuizen said, “Rest assured that we will spare no effort to help. Although our ability to provide assistance in Afghanistan is extremely limited at this time, consular support continues to be available to Canadians in Afghanistan.”
Canadian embassies, high commissions and consulates around the world had also been mobilized to help people who might have escaped Afghanistan and reached a third country.
Termorshuizen also had advice for those stranded in the country.
“To our fellow citizens in Afghanistan, if you need to move to a safer location, please do so with great caution. Use your judgment to decide the best time and the safest means to do so. Assess the risk carefully as you take the necessary steps to ensure your security, and that of your family. Our hearts go out to those who find themselves unable to leave Afghanistan, and afraid for their safety.”
OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN AFGHANISTAN IS EXTREMELY LIMITED.