About 800 Afghans have arrived in the North American country as part of a new special immigration program, authorities explained. The government recently pledged to host 20,000 refugees under this program.
The fall of the Afghan government last Sunday generated a wave of panic in the country, where the previous Taliban regime (1996-2001) marked by human rights violations is remembered. Many Afghans who collaborated with Western allies fear retaliation from the Taliban.
“Conditions on the ground are precarious, chaotic and desperate,” Canadian officials explained, referring to a “dangerous mission.”
“It is currently chaos and desperate both inside and outside the (Kabul) airport,” they said.
Canada resumed flights to the Afghan capital on Thursday, sending two military jets for the first time since the Taliban took control of the city.
For its part, the United States announced that it has evacuated some 17,000 people since August 14.