Help Reunite Syrian Refugee Family

At the height of media attention to the humanitarian crisis in Syria five years ago, thousands of Canadians opened up their hearts and home to help settle these desperate refugees from the Syrian Civil War. Raghda, then 23yrs old, was fortunate enough to be among one of these first few refugees who were sponsored to Canada. Sadly, however, she had to leave behind her parents and four younger siblings (three brothers and one sister, now ages 18, 15 and13yo twins).

When the war began in Syria, the family, from the Alyadoudeh village in the city of Daraa, was in danger of death, as houses were bombed, children, women and the elderly killed, young men arrested and subjected to torture. Killing and destruction was everywhere. The lack of food and water and permanent lack of electricity forced the family to flee from Syria to the Zaatari camp in Jordan. This past year, in the family's continued search for hope and freedom, her family moved on into Lebanon, and are now living in the Sabra refugee camp. They cannot return to Syria because not only are their lives endangered by the ongoing violence, but their sons are at risk of being recruited to fight in the war. 

As refugee/asylum seekers, the family's human rights are not observed or recognized.  They cannot obtain the right to live, work, or seek medical treatment. The children cannot go to school. And they, cannot obtain permanent residence or citizenship in the country of asylum.

Since being sponsored to Canada four years ago, Raghda, their eldest daughter, has been living in Edmonton. It pains her everyday knowing that her family continues to live in limbo, in makeshift camps, with her younger siblings having no future. Raghda is now married, with a four mth old and a two yr old. As much as she and her husband are working hard to save to help sponsor her family, it is difficult for her and her extended family as they are all relatively new immigrants trying to build their lives in their new home country.

That is why she and her husband's uncle Mohamad, who is our dear friend, have reached out to us to help reunite this family and save the children from this hopeless, desperate situation.  We are hoping to partner with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) because they have Sponsorship Agreement Holder status. We need to raise the funds required by the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in Canada to sponsor a family of six for the application to be considered.

I am a medical doctor, and where I am today is because forty years ago, kind and compassionate Canadians reached out to a Malaysian refugee camp to sponsor my family to Canada from the Vietnam War. Four years ago, I and a group of friends (again with the help of the community) were able to sponsor two Syrian families (also with the help of the MCC). All our lives have since been enriched by their love and friendship. Canada is more beautiful today because of them.

It breaks our heart knowing that there are still so many refugee families now forgotten in these refugee camps. We hope that as a community, we can come together again to help this family, to help bring them to Canada so they can build a new life full of hope for their children, where the children can return to school to build a new future.

We are deeply grateful to you for your kindness and generosity. 

With Gratitude,
Nhung, Raghda, Cecile, Bonnie, Patti, Marta

p.s. We understand that we are in the midst of a pandemic. We know it may be awhile before we can even get this family to Canada, but, this is why we feel it is critical for us to start the application process now.  The longer we wait, the longer the children suffer.

(Photo : Nikolay Doychinovnikolay/AFP)