The International Development Minister of Canada, Harjit Sajjan, said that the earliest time to amend the Criminal Code on Canadian aid groups in Afghanistan “could be around springtime” or later.

This comes as Global News reported that a senate committee is urging the Trudeau government to amend laws that are blocking humanitarian groups from responding to growing desperation in Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan is in acute humanitarian crisis, with soaring food prices, insecurity and lack of access to basic services likely to cause widespread suffering and many deaths,” said a joint statement by Canadian MPs Heather McPherson and Jenny Kwan.

But Sajjan said that the “earliest time could be around springtime; it could go faster or it could take longer.”

“The ministers who are involved have been working really hard to get this done,” Sajjan added.

Economists said they believe that providing humanitarian assistance is important as winter approaches.

“Considering the grave poverty, which is currently facing our people, particularly in the winter, the international community’s assistance can prevent the death of people due to cold weather of the winter,” said Basheer Shabiri, an economist.

The Ministry of Economy welcomed Canada’s efforts to unblock aid to Afghanistan, saying that to alleviate the economic challenges in the country, there is a need for employment and jobs.

“Looking into the current economic situation, attention should be focused on the implementation of projects which creates jobs and reduces poverty and also those plans should be prioritized that are providing permanent jobs,” said Abdul Rahman Habib, a spokesman for the MoE.

Since the fall of the republic government, nearly $2 billion in cash has arrived in Afghanistan.

However, some residents of capital Kabul complained, saying that they have not received aid.

“I have problems. I live in the Bahrastan area of Kabul but I have not received any aid,” said Sayed Jalil, a resident of Kabul.

“I have registered my name many times but no one gives us anything. I make between 200 to 300 Afs as a laborer. The family problems are more severe than my job,” said Abdullah, a resident of Kabul.

Earlier, the State Ministry for Disaster Management said that 90 percent people of Afghanistan are in need of humanitarian assistance.