No sign of Syrian refugee family
Group remains in Lebanese refugee camp eight months after paperwork filed to bring them here
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Early this year, a group of residents were busy raising money and filing the paperwork to bring a Syrian refugee family to Yellowknife. Eight months later, the family still has not arrived.
Sarwat Awan, left Jennifer Drouin, Hunaifa Malik and Gabriela Wasicuna were spring cleaning on Phinney Court on May 8. The group, organized by Malik, cleaned up two areas of the city as part of a fundraiser for a Syrian refugee family scheduled to come to Yellowknife. However, eight months after an application was made to the federal government to sponsor a family, there is still no sign of them. - photo courtesy of Nazim Awan
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The group - Yellowknife Welcomes Refugees Number One - is one of five organizations in the city working to sponsor a family. It's members - the first Yellowknife group to forward their request to the federal government - have been waiting patiently for the two parents and four children to arrive since the group sent its paperwork to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration in January. Yet, the family continues to languish in a Lebanese refugee camp.
The group has raised more than $15,000 by holding fundraisers, including a concert at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre back in May. The territorial government has also pledged up to $90,000 to help bring the families to Yellowknife, however, the deadline to apply for that funding is Oct. 14.
Last week, the group wrote a letter to NWT MP Michael McLeod expressing concern the Syrian family is still waiting.
"Since first contacting you in April 2016 about the status of the Al Hajjy family (parents and four children), we have received confirmation that their security screening and travel documentation are complete (June), and that they are simply waiting for plane tickets to come to Yellowknife from the refugee camp," the letter stated.
"We are writing to you again to urge both you and the Hon. John McCallum (Citizenship and Immigration Minister) to expedite not only the travel for our refugee family, but also that of all refugees that have passed security screenings and are travel ready."
Lindsay Armer, spokesperson for the group, said they have not applied for territorial funding yet as they are waiting to hear a status update on the family. She is pointing to the Switzerland-based non-government organization International Organization for Migration (IOM) , as possibly being responsible for the delay.
"Our understanding is that the IOM - the group that the Government of Canada subcontracts out to - has been provided money to arrange for travel," Armer said.
The Trudeau government, when first elected last fall, arranged for commercial flights for refugee families from Syria. And they started coming in - initially, 25,000 Syrian refugees were brought to Canada but Armer suspects the issue has now dropped off the radar somewhat.
"There is not much more we can do," said Armer. "We are asking the public to write to MP McLeod and Minister McCallum to expedite things," she said.
Armer also mentioned it is critical for the incoming students to be enrolled in school before the end of next month, a concern reiterated in the group's letter to politicians.
"School starts in a matter of weeks. The Al Hajjy children are likely going to miss out on the first day of school, and the opportunity to make new friends and attend a complete school year," the letter stated. "We also understand that if students are not registered by Sept. 30, that the schools cannot receive funding for those students. We want to ensure that the schools can access the financial resources necessary to help the Al Hajjy children adjust to Canada."
Copies of the letter were sent to various other politicians including Premier Bob McLeod and Mayor Mark Heyck.
