TORONTO — Thousands of Afghans fleeing the Taliban are growing increasingly desperate for any sort of lifeline that can bring them to safety. An estimated 1,700 men, women and children destined for Canada are currently holed up in safe houses across Afghanistan, where they are fearful for their lives after helping the Canadian Armed Forces in the Afghanistan war.
“If he gets me, yeah, they will kill us, because he knows about us,” said one Afghan man, who is not being named for safety reasons.
As he and thousands of others are pleading for help, there are few resources at there disposal in Canada and on the ground after Canada’s embassy suspended operations on Aug. 15. The Veterans Transition Network (VTN), which has been raising money to help the Afghan interpreters, says money is running out and they have yet to receive any support from the federal government.
“We have raised $1.7 million privately, we have spent $1.4 million of that money,” said retired Maj.-Gen. Denis Thompson.
Thompson said with the organization’s current burn rate, it only has a few weeks left to help before the money runs out.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said the agency is “in close contact” with the VTN and is “working to support their efforts to protect vulnerable persons in Afghanistan including human rights defenders, women peacebuilders, former Canadian Armed Forces interpreters and locally engaged staff.”……..Source: cbc.ca
Friday, April 17, 2026
