Canada's largest humanitarian aid agencies are joining together to demand that Canada allows for lifesaving aid to be provided to Afghans in need.

Campaign Updates:

March 2023

Over the past 8 months, close to 10,000 Canadians have joined the Aid for Afghanistan campaign calling on the federal government to remove barriers to life-saving aid and assistance in Afghanistan.

On March 9th, the federal government responded to our calls for action, introducing Bill C-41, an amendment to the Criminal Code that will allow Canadian aid agencies to provide humanitarian support in Afghanistan without the fear of criminal prosecution.

This announcement is an important step forward in the right direction toward finding a permanent solution for the countless Afghans who are counting on international aid and assistance to survive. 

The Aid for Afghanistan coalition will continue to work with all parties to ensure these amendments are passed effectively and efficiently so that aid can reach those who need it most. 

January 2023

The Aid for Afghanistan coalition, alongside humanitarian organizations around the world, are deeply concerned by the Taliban's announcement, banning women from public life and restricting the work of most NGOs. We are specifically concerned about the impacts on local communities in need of aid. As a coalition made up of diverse organizations, the implications of the bans are still being assessed and clarified, as the impacts may vary for different partners. 

However, now more than ever, humanitarian aid is crucial.  We must stand in support of Afghan people in urgent need of assistance as the needs on the ground only continue to grow. It is critical that all barriers to assistance to providing aid in Afghanistan are removed. The coalition remains committed to our ongoing dialogue and advocacy in this area, to ensure those most at risk are supported with assistance.

Background on the Aid for Afghanistan Campaign:

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Afghanistan is in the midst of a deepening humanitarian crisis. More than half of the population — at least 23 million people — require urgent humanitarian assistance, and 19.7 million people are regularly going to bed hungry – including over 13 million children.

The UN has called upon the international community to make a humanitarian exception to sanctions against the Taliban, in order to make a way for vital aid and humanitarian assistance to reach Afghans in need. 

While our allies have already carved out humanitarian exceptions to their sanctions regimes and criminal law, Canada has yet to provide an avenue for humanitarian agencies to continue their operations in Afghanistan.

Canada has a duty not to turn its back on the people of Afghanistan. 

The current economic collapse – brought on by the cumulative impact of years of conflict, food shortages, challenges in governance, recurrent natural disasters, and now international sanctions – is hurting innocent civilians, especially Afghan women and girls. 

Now more than ever, we must stand up for Afghans in extremely vulnerable situations. Canadian humanitarian and development agencies have operated in Afghanistan for decades and must be allowed to continue carrying out essential operations. We will continue to work our hardest to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those who need it the most.