Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Aid groups urge Canada to loosen Taliban sanctions amid multiple Afghanistan crises

People clean a car that was damaged by an explosion, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) People clean a car that was damaged by an explosion, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Share
Ottawa -

Major humanitarian groups are urging the Trudeau government to loosen its restrictions on working with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The Canadian Red Cross, Oxfam Canada and Amnesty International are among 18 groups arguing that Ottawa has fallen behind its peers in finding loopholes for humanitarian aid while isolating the Taliban regime.

They say the Canadian sanctions are blocking their response to a humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan.

The Taliban took control in Afghanistan in August 2021.

An estimated 23 million people are facing food shortages in the country, which is beset by droughts, a breakdown of health services and an economy in free fall.

The aid groups say anti-terrorism rules in the Criminal Code are preventing Canadian groups from getting supplies out of warehouses and into the hands of people in urgent need.

In June, a special House of Commons committee formed to study the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan said Ottawa needed to amend those rules.

That committee noted the U.S., Australia, Britain and the European Union had all found ways to get aid flowing to the country.

The Liberals have not issued a formal response to that report, leading aid groups to decry what they call a "disheartening lack of urgency."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2022.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

Local Spotlight

For the second year in a row, the ‘Gift-a-Family’ campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts – not for themselves, but for those in need.

A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

Stay Connected