OTTAWA — Canada is prepared to assist Afghans following a devastating earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday. The earthquake has reportedly resulted in over 1,400 fatalities and more than 3,000 injuries, according to the Taliban government. Despite this commitment, some organizations express concern that the Canadian government's policies have made it more difficult to provide aid to those living under Taliban rule.

Randeep Sarai, Canada’s Secretary of State for International Development, stated on social media, "Canada stands ready to support the Afghan people, with our humanitarian partners." However, as of late Tuesday, the federal government had not yet announced any emergency aid.

The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has been exacerbated since the Taliban took control in August 2021. Many countries have reduced foreign aid and cut financial ties with the Taliban regime. The United Nations reports that half of Afghanistan's population, approximately 23 million people, are in need of humanitarian assistance. Additionally, the country is struggling to reintegrate 2.5 million citizens who returned this year, often under duress, from other nations.

Babar Baloch, a spokesman for the UN Refugee Agency, noted that women and children are particularly vulnerable in the aftermath of the earthquake. He warned that humanitarian efforts could be further complicated by Taliban restrictions on female aid workers.

Asma Faizi, head of the Toronto-based Afghan Women’s Organization, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "The gravity of the situation requires immediate attention. Unfortunately, Afghanistan has been lost in the shuffle of these other international crises." Her organization supports Afghan newcomers to Canada and women living in Afghanistan and nearby countries. They also operate an all-girls orphanage in Kabul, which has been unable to receive Canadian aid since the Taliban's takeover.

In the months following the Taliban's rise to power, the UN and several countries, including the U.S. and Australia, provided exemptions to terrorism laws to allow aid organizations to operate in Afghanistan without directly supporting the Taliban. In contrast, Canada has warned aid groups that any financial transactions with the Taliban, including taxes for local workers, could lead to prosecution for supporting a terrorist organization.

Nearly two years after the Taliban's takeover, Canada passed legislation that allows humanitarian work, such as providing food and water, but requires special permits for development projects, like building schools. It took a year for the government to begin accepting applications for these permits. Faizi pointed out that the distinction between humanitarian and development work is often unclear, complicating aid efforts.

Faizi expressed concern that the new laws could hinder vaccination efforts and other critical services. "Our government sees it as clearcut," she said. "The humanitarian sector does not know at what point it will be crossing into the realm (requiring) authorization, and our government has not provided the guidance that is required."

In June, the government released its first annual report under the new permitting process, revealing that only two permits had been issued out of 14 applications received since June 2024. Most applications were for health services, education, and human rights programming, which are desperately needed in Afghanistan.

Faizi highlighted that smaller organizations often lack the resources to navigate the complex permit process, creating a "presumption of criminality that didn’t exist before." She warned that without addressing the underlying issues, desperate Afghans may continue to turn to extremist groups.

While Canada has funded UN projects in Afghanistan that do not involve Canadian aid workers, Faizi believes more action is needed. "Canada does need to sit down and figure out what position it is going to take vis-à-vis humanitarian aid inside Afghanistan," she said. "If the women are dying of starvation inside Afghanistan, then you’re not really helping in the long run."