The current crisis in Afghanistan is causing widespread fear and displacement. There were already over 2.2 million Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries and more than 3.5 million internally displaced people inside Afghanistan.
AURA, and the sponsorship community in general, are still waiting for details about the role private sponsorship will play in responding to this crisis. We are eager to help sponsor groups submit applications for Afghan refugees. We know from the SAH (Sponsorship Agreement Holder) Navigation Unit that IRCC is currently working on details and we can expect them soon.
Thank you to all those sponsors who have reached out to offer support. We look forward to working with each of you. This is what we know so far about IRCC's special Public Policies:
Public Policy #1: This program is currently underway and is a special immigration program for locally engaged Afghan nationals and their families. This policy aims to help people who assisted the Government of Canada. Thousands of Afghans have already arrived and support is being coordinated by a coast-to-coast network. This special immigration program is IRCC's priority and those who are arriving are Government Assisted Refugees (not Privately Sponsored Refugees).
Public Policy #2: This special humanitarian program will focus on the resettlement of Afghan refugees who are outside the country and who are from vulnerable groups including women leaders, human rights advocates, LGBTI individuals, journalists, and their immediate family members. This will be a long-term initiative expected to extend to December 2023. This special humanitarian program is still in development and we are awaiting details and planning to increase our capacity to respond.
Please contact AURA if you are interested in forming a refugee sponsorship group to sponsor an Afghan refugee family or individual.