Malalai Azimee recounts a journey filled with fear and uncertainty, crossing a river and scaling a wall with her three daughters in a bid to flee the Taliban regime in August 2021. August 15 represents the four-year anniversary of the Taliban seizing Kabul shortly after the withdrawal of U.S. troops, prompting Azimee and numerous Afghans to seek refuge in Toronto. Azimee, a former social worker and women’s rights activist, expressed relief upon reaching safety in Canada but remains concerned about her family’s fate back home.
Canada welcomed more than 55,000 Afghan refugees between August 2021 and November 2024, following the U.S. troop withdrawal in 2020 and the subsequent Taliban takeover. Despite initial efforts to accept 20,000 Afghan refugees, including 5,000 evacuated by the U.S., the federal government has now halted the acceptance of new applications, leaving many like Azimee anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
Sajad Amini, co-president of the Afghan Students’ Association at the University of Toronto, shares the emotional weight of the anniversary as someone who witnessed the collapse of the Afghan government and fled the Taliban’s rule. Amini’s family currently resides in Pakistan, facing deportation fears while he believes Canada could do more to assist refugees escaping the oppressive regime.
In response, a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada highlighted the government’s efforts to aid over 59,000 Afghans through the Afghan Resettlement initiative since August 2021. While specific program intakes are closed, the spokesperson emphasized ongoing processing for eligible applications received, noting the challenges posed by the lack of Canadian presence in Afghanistan.
Upon her arrival in Canada, Azimee received support from Canadian Connections, a non-profit aiding Afghan-Canadians in resettlement efforts. Marcella Tomas, the organization’s executive director, stressed the importance of a warm welcome in facilitating successful integration and shared stories of Afghan refugees thriving in their new home.
Unfortunately, the situation in Afghanistan remains dire, with ongoing human rights abuses by the Taliban, particularly against women. Amini described a humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan, highlighting the denial of basic rights to girls and the urgency of advocacy efforts to address the worsening conditions.
As Amini reflects on his displaced status and the plight of his homeland, he calls for continued advocacy work and hopes for a brighter future for Afghanistan.