Canada announces $56 million in urgent humanitarian assistance for people of Afghanistan

Canada remains deeply concerned by the critical and worsening humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan.

Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, announced that Canada is providing $56 million in humanitarian funding in response to the appeals for 2022 from the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to support the Afghan people. By working with experienced humanitarian partners, Canada can deliver much-needed assistance while ensuring this support directly reaches the most vulnerable people in Afghanistan.

This funding will allow Canada’s humanitarian partners to provide life-saving assistance, such as emergency food and nutrition services and protection and logistics services, to ensure that humanitarian goods are dispatched and that workers continue to be able to respond to the crisis in the face of daunting challenges.

Canada will continue to work with experienced partners and NGOs to see how it can continue to support Afghans in need.

Quotes

“Millions of people across Afghanistan require urgent assistance and I will do everything possible to get them the help they need. I remain committed to helping the Afghan people, and I will work with experienced partners and NGOs to see what else Canada can do to help the Afghan people.”

– Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada

Quick facts

• Since 2014, in addition to the funding announced today, Canada has allocated a total of $179.7 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. This includes $27.3 million in humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan in 2021 and an additional $50 million for Afghanistan and the region announced in August 2021.
• The recent upheaval in Afghanistan has exacerbated the already significant humanitarian needs there. In that country, an estimated 24 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2022, up from 18.4 million in 2021.