By: Aresell Joseph
The aunt of a young boy who died trying to flee the war in Syria has confirmed that the surviving members of the child’s family are on track to come to Canada as part of the Trudeau government’s refugee plan.
“Alan Kurdi, 3, his brother Galib, 5, and their mother, Rehana, were among a dozen Syrian refugees who died when their boat capsized between Turkey and the Greek island of Kos. The father, Abdullah Kurdi, survived,” CBC reported.
The CBC investigative program the fifth estate is now reporting that Alan’s Canadian aunt, Tima Kurdi, said “an email from Immigration Canada on Nov. 10 ‘confirms the approval’ of their application. Alan’s Uncle Mohammed, Aunt Ghousoun and their five children will soon call Vancouver home.”
“It will happen…they will bring them,” Tima Kurdi told the fifth estate.
Canada has agreed to accept 25,000 Iraqi and Syrian refugees, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that 10,000 of them will be coming before Dec. 31 and more will arrive by the end of February.
Alan’s father said the family was denied refugee status, but this claim was disputed by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Here are some reactions on social media after Kurdi broke the news.
Her displaced brother, sister and their five children were approved by Immigration Canada, Kurdi told CBC.
1/2 “Originally, Canadians and Americans are people who were immigrants,they should relate to refugees…#Alankurdi
— Sandra (@Sandra_8621) November 27, 2015
2/2The Syrian people are not terrorists,the Syrian people have been victimized by terrorism.”Alan’s aunt #Alankurdi pic.twitter.com/HY6Pd2RzdS — Sandra (@Sandra_8621) November 27, 2015
The family of #AlanKurdi is coming to Canada. Father finds solace that his son’s story brought change to the world. https://t.co/uDmJC5egZk
— Salam Morcos (@SalamMorcos) November 27, 2015
#Alankurdi #refugee Tha family of Alan Kurdi find refuge in Canada. https://t.co/ViKjKiCOPi — paul hansen (@paulhansen64) November 27, 2015
Jacquelyn Wright, a vice president of international programs at CARE Canada, said she is happy that many Syrian refugees will resettle in Canada away from poverty and war.
“We applaud recent commitments to resettle more refugees in Canada,” Wright said in a press release.
“However, more help is required to support the neighboring countries hosting the overwhelming majorities of Syrian refugees.”
The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario has said that it will help refugees resettle in Canada.
RNAO’s CEO Doris Grinspun said together with the Ontario Medical Association, they are willing to work with resettlement agencies if it will be beneficial to set up webinars on different topics to help Syrian refugees obtain a better life in Canada.
“Our role as registered nurses, nurse practitioner and even the students of nursing is to be there to support this policy initiative,” Grinspun said.