Afghan Interpreters, Others Fast-tracking to Canada

[The Bread Guy]

A good chunk arriving in Newfoundland ...

• “Whirlwind few weeks preparing for 116 Afghan refugees coming to St. John’s (NL), but relief they’re now safe” (SaltWire)
• “With 116 Afghan refugees safely in St. John’s the real work begins” (CBC News)
• ” ‘Magic in the airport’ as 116 Afghan refugees arrive in St. John’s to start new lives in Canada” (SaltWire)
• “(NL) NDP seeks assurances refugee children will have supports in school system” (ntv.ca)
• “Association for New Canadians helping newly arrived Afghan refugees” (ntv.ca)

 

[dimsum]

A good chunk arriving in Newfoundland ...

• “Whirlwind few weeks preparing for 116 Afghan refugees coming to St. John’s (NL), but relief they’re now safe” (SaltWire)
• “With 116 Afghan refugees safely in St. John’s the real work begins” (CBC News)
• ” ‘Magic in the airport’ as 116 Afghan refugees arrive in St. John’s to start new lives in Canada” (SaltWire)
• “(NL) NDP seeks assurances refugee children will have supports in school system” (ntv.ca)
• “Association for New Canadians helping newly arrived Afghan refugees” (ntv.ca)

I'm not sure what will be more jarring - the weather or Newfoundland hospitality.

 

[OldSolduer]

I'm not sure what will be more jarring - the weather or Newfoundland hospitality.

I’ve served with a good number of Newfoundlanders - let’s just say there’s never a dull moment

 

[dimsum]

I’ve served with a good number of Newfoundlanders - let’s just say there’s never a dull moment

Exactly. I think the Afghans will be surprised, in a good way.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Canadians helping Afghans scoot (to other countries) ...

• “Canadian NGO is helping LGBTQ Afghans get to safety. But Ottawa is sitting on sidelines” (Globe and Mail)
• “Toronto charity helps airlift group of LGBTQ people out of Afghanistan – Rainbow Railroad worked with the U.K. to help 29 people flee the Taliban …” (CBC News)
• “Rainbow Railroad gets 29 LGBTQ2S+ Afghans to U.K.” (CTV News)
• “First group of LGBT+ Afghans fleeing Taliban arrive in the UK” (UK Guardian)
• “Britain rescues over a dozen LGBT Afghans” (Reuters)
• “Almost 30 LGBT+ Afghans resettled in the UK following brutal Taliban takeover” (PinkNews.co.uk)

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Exactly. I think the Afghans will be surprised, in a good way.

however, the “screeching in“ might cause some cross cultural confusion…

 

[The Bread Guy]

Open letter/advice to PM, others in Ottawa from Human Rights Watch:

... Now that the new cabinet has been appointed, the time has come for that leadership. The signatories therefore call upon Prime Minister Trudeau, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada Sean Fraser and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly to urgently address the following four major issues that must be resolved if Canada is to achieve its purpose in securing the safe and timely evacuation of the at-risk individuals from Afghanistan targeted through Canada’s special programs.

1) Clarify Canada’s policy by defining its terms.

(...)

2) Devote Significant Resources Needed to Get the Job Done, and Permit Discretion for Decision Makers as Required.

(...)

3) Waive the Requirement of UNHCR Recognition, and Recognize the Afghan Crisis as a Prima Facie Refugee Situation.

(...)

4) Working with Allies, Demand Assurances from the Taliban.

(...)

 

[The Bread Guy]

More of the latest ....

• “Afghans without Canadian links using forged papers to try to enter rescue program for ex-employees: sources” (National Post)
• “Kabul safe houses need $5 million by Friday to stay open, say veterans” (The Canadian Press via Yahoo)
• “Richmond students donate $2,000 to support new Afghan refugees” (Richmond News)
• “In quarantine hotels, Afghan refugees say they lack basics. ‘We don’t have enough clothes’ ” (The Canadian Press via Globalnews.ca)
• “Afghanistan: Charitable groups issue call to action for Canada” (CTV News)
• “Former parliamentarians, humanitarian groups urge Ottawa to step up on Afghan resettlement efforts” (CBC via YouTube)

 

[Jarnhamar]

Girl shot dead by Taliban while family was preparing to flee to Canada​

Girl shot dead by Taliban while family was preparing to flee to Canada

 

[Good2Golf]

Our Government has no shame. The PM was seized of a personally-driven effort to increase his power, and forced the machinery of government to pause while he and his team positioned to expand the base of his throne, even as tens of thousands of Afghans tried to flee the ravages of the Taliban. Weeks later, with a statistically minuscule blip of increase to a refreshed minority government (and 2/3 billion CAD of the citizens’ treasure expended for little to show for it) Afghans continued to seek support of one of the countries who’s soldiers benefited so greatly from the loyal Afghans’.

May Justin Trudeau and the rest of his loyal supporters have the courage to look at Nazifa’s picture, and explain to us why she and others like her were “asking too much…”

For shame, JT, for shame.

 

[The Bread Guy]

This from Team Blue on the latest:

 

[OldSolduer]

This from Team Blue on the latest:
View attachment 67683

I can answer this. Trudeau could care less about the plight of someone who assisted the CAF thousands of miles away. This should be splashed on every media outlet available. You, MR PM are partially responsible for this young woman's death. SHE IS THE SAME AGE AS MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND YES I AM FUCKING ANGRY.

My son did not die serving with these wonderful people only to have them abandoned.. Jesus H Christ.

A leopard cannot change his spots no matter what they tell you.

 

[The Bread Guy]

This from Reuters ....

Canada will take in female Afghan judges and their families who have been living in limbo, primarily in Greece, since their evacuation from Afghanistan in the fall, a spokesperson for the immigration minister said Friday.

In addition to the judges and their families, a group totalling about 230 people, Canada will also resettle an unspecified number of Afghans from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities who had been referred by a third-party aid organization, the spokesperson said.

They are expected to come to Canada next year but there is no firm date ...

 

[The Bread Guy]

How some got here ....

A top editor at CBS News resigned last week after clashing with the network’s co-president over whether to rescue Afghan journalists and fixers from the chaos-ridden country last year, The Post has learned. London Bureau Chief Andy Clarke, a 38-year CBS veteran who was responsible for dispatching journalists around the world, stepped down last week after multiple disagreements with CBS News co-president Neeraj Khemlani over budget cuts ...

Clarke’s breaking point, insiders said, came when Khemlani initially refused to pony up cash to extradite Afghan journalists and fixers who worked for CBS last year when President Biden ordered US troops to pull out of Afghanistan.

Eventually, Clarke won a standoff and convinced Khemlani to pay and send the Afghan staffers to Canada, sources said ...

 

[The Bread Guy]

A few arrive in BC - from the info-machine ...

The Government of Canada is working hard to resettle 40,000 Afghan nationals as quickly and safely as possible. Over the past week, nearly 460 Afghan refugees arrived in Canada on 20 different commercial flights. To date, a total of 7,550 Afghan nationals have arrived in Canada.

On February 3, a flight with 90 government-assisted refugees arrived at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and was greeted by Musqueam elders, who welcomed the newcomers to their territory with a cedar brushing and welcome song as a way to ensure a fresh start and safe path on the next steps of their journey. As part of the Vancouver Airport Authority’s Friendship Agreement with Musqueam, and as a step toward reconciliation, Musqueam and YVR hope the gesture helps share a glimpse of Musqueam history and culture and encourages newcomers to learn more about Indigenous people in Canada.

Photos of the Musqueam ceremony are available in Dropbox. You can also monitor Canada’s progress on welcoming Afghan refugees to Canada ...

 

[The Bread Guy]

Can't win, this guy ...

Afghan Interpreter Escapes Taliban Only To Face Russian Invasion Threat In Ukraine

A 33-year-old interpreter who worked for NATO forces in Afghanistan managed to get to Ukraine with his large family after the Taliban takeover last summer. But delays in his Canadian visa application has him worried they'll all be trapped in Ukraine if Russian forces invade.

www.rferl.org

 

[The Bread Guy]

Latest stats ....

Redirecting

 

[dimsum]

Latest stats ....

Redirecting

Question: If these folks helped multiple countries, could they apply to multiple countries for evac during the Kabul Airlift?

If they can do that, then the follow-on question would be how many of the 9000-ish Afghans applied to Canada, but then were evacuated to US, UK, etc?

 

[The Bread Guy]

Bumped with this guy still working at it ....

When Jonathon Monaghan served with the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan in 2009 he formed a bond with his Afghan interpreter that endures to this day.

Now Monaghan and his wife, Kara, are trying to get his former interpreter, his wife and 30 members of his extended family to the security of Halifax.

Monaghan said they are applying for permanent residence for the family under a special Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada provision for extended families of former Afghan interpreters ...

 

[CBH99]

Can't win, this guy ...

Afghan Interpreter Escapes Taliban Only To Face Russian Invasion Threat In Ukraine

A 33-year-old interpreter who worked for NATO forces in Afghanistan managed to get to Ukraine with his large family after the Taliban takeover last summer. But delays in his Canadian visa application has him worried they'll all be trapped in Ukraine if Russian forces invade.

www.rferl.org

This guy contributed more to a high profile Canadian effort (Afghan war) than a vast majority of Canadians ever would or could, yet gets 0% of the credit, and it appears 0% of what we offered for the help.

All that, only to be in Ukraine of all places where Russia just couldn’t stop itself from being… Russia.