By Canadian Press

Trudeau has no timeline for unblocking Afghan aid, as humanitarian crisis deepens

Oct 12, 2022 | 11:40 AM

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has no timeline for when Canadian aid groups will be able to respond to a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Aid groups say Canadian officials have warned them that buying supplies or paying a driver to deliver food in Afghanistan would incur taxes for the Taliban, which could contravene anti-terrorism laws.

The Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, and Canada lists the organization as a terrorist group.

The country is facing a shortage of food and medical supplies, so Australia and the European Union found workarounds to their own laws this spring to allow aid groups to help.

Today, Trudeau says Canada will find a way to help Afghanistan, but he offered no timeline or details.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2022.

The Canadian Press