Dear Editor:
Recently, Ottawa/the federal government declared a state of emergency. If we expand our vision beyond our own country, we might not forget to look to Afghanistan and another kind of emergency. One in which the financial system has collapsed, assets have been frozen, which if released could save millions from extreme hunger.
The media occasionally continues to cover this crisis following the withdrawal of Canadian, American and other NATO allies in August 2021 after the Taliban assumed control.
Winter is almost over here in Canada, as it is in Afghanistan. I wonder how the poor, the children, the homeless, the disabled and others have managed to secure shelter, medical care, food and other life affirming necessities there.
There are many Afghani refugees desperate to seek refuge in stable countries. Canada can do more to help them because we have an obligation to those who have assisted our military while we were there fighting on their behalf. Veterans have pleaded for the government to act more swiftly, as have lawyers and other humanitarian agencies.
With our attention focused on Ukraine, please do not use it as an excuse to forget those who we have already made promises to, but have yet to act swiftly on their behalf.
Janet Calderwood,
Rockwood