1,705 Afghans shifted to Canada, UK under refugees settlement programme

Islamabad : The International Organisation for Immigrants (IOM) has shifted 1,705 Afghan refugees, staying in Islamabad to Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) during January 2024, under the refugees settlement programme, the sources said Thursday.

The Afghan Refugees left for Toronto on five charter flights – 300 refugees on 10th January, 330 on 17th January, 345 on 18th January, 260 to the UK on the same day of 18th January, 330 on 26th January, 2024, while, 130 passengers were departed on commercial flights, the sources said.

In December 2023, 1,845 Afghan refugees left for Canada and the UK on six charter flights including a group of 330 immigrants who left for Canada on 5th December, 330 refugees departed to Canada, 350 persons on 12th December to Canada, 250 on 13th December to the UK, on 14th December, 345 persons to Canada, on 18th December, 250 to UK and on 19th December, 320 immigrants departed to Canada on charter flight.

Earlier in November, 2023, 407 immigrants departed on 29th November – from the ages of 8 months infant to over 70 years old refugees, the sources maintained, adding that during the last two months – September and October – just 1,530 Afghan refugees could be sent to Canada. In September, 910 refugees left Islamabad to Canada by three charter flights including 300 refugees on 6th September, 320 on 11th September and on 19th September, 290 Afghans left Islamabad. While, during October, 620 people could leave Islamabad – on 10th October, 320 refugees, and on 24th October, 300 Afghans left for Toronto.

The sources said that over 35,000 refugees have been transported to Toronto till now from Islamabad by the IOM, adding that the IOM has worked closely with the Government of Canada and other partners to safely resettle Afghan refugees in the country since August 2021.