Canada is sending $3 million in humanitarian assistance to help thousands of people devastated by Sunday’s powerful earthquake in Afghanistan, which has claimed more than 2,200 lives.
Global Affairs Canada announced Friday that $1.3 million will go to the World Food Programme to provide food and logistical support. Another $1 million will be directed to the International Committee of the Red Cross, while CARE Canada and Islamic Relief Canada will each receive $350,000 to deliver clean water, emergency shelters, and essential supplies.
The aid is part of more than $36 million in Canadian humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan this year, distributed through UN agencies, the Red Cross, and non-governmental partners. Global Affairs said Ottawa continues to monitor the situation and will work closely with trusted partners to respond as needs evolve.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life and the widespread devastation caused by the earthquake in Afghanistan,” said Randeep Sarai, secretary of state for international development. “My heart goes out to all those affected.”
The quake struck a country already in crisis. Since the Taliban seized power in 2021, Afghanistan has faced severe economic isolation as governments cut financial ties with the regime. Foreign aid has been sharply reduced, worsening hunger and disease across the country.
The United Nations says half of Afghanistan’s 46 million people require humanitarian aid. The country has also struggled to absorb 2.5 million returnees this year, many deported from neighboring nations where they had sought refuge.
For Afghan families, the earthquake has deepened an already dire humanitarian emergency. Canada’s contribution, while modest, aims to provide immediate relief and support international partners working on the ground.