Canada can Do More to Help Syrians Ottawa Citizen/ Sep 29, 2013 The Syrian crisis is teaching us lessons about the extent of the international community’s indifference to the suffering of the people. Not only is the complexity of the politics of international diplomacy challenging the most brilliant political analysts, but the very fuzzy picture reflected by media reporting from the field is not drawing international public opinion into pressuring their respective governments enough to favor one party against the other. This is despite the countless number of amateur videos being posted every day by Syrians within the country. Although sources differ, there is no doubt the number of refugees who are fleeing the country is constantly rising. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, over two million people have sought refuge in neighboring countries, with a current average of 5,000 daily. While some refugee camps in Turkey seem to benefit from relatively acceptable humanitarian services, others in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq are suffering from lack of minimum sanitation, food supply and medical care. Looking at other Arab states that possess the means to provide more material support, including refuge to a good number of persecuted Syrians, one cannot but feel bewildered and stupefied by their hermetic borders. For example, Saudi Arabia is expanding its energy and resources “correcting the status” of its existing foreign working population with the view to Saudi-izing its employment, and hence putting pressure on many Syrian residents, among others, to either find a sponsor-employer against a ratio of citizens, or leave the country. This is used as further justification to close the borders in the face of refuge seekers and preventing family reunifications. On the other hand, credit goes to the European Union, whose Parliament last Thursday passed a resolution urging its members “to live up to their humanitarian responsibilities and to increase their assistance to Syrian refugees.” Since then, several countries have opened their doors to Syrian refugees. Sweden was not only the first to do so, but it has also accepted more than 15,000 refugees, making it the most hospitable European country. Next comes Germany with the 5,000 exiles it has agreed to welcome with two-year residency permits that could be extended if the war continues. Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Austria, Norway and even the economically crippled Spain have pledged to accommodate a few hundred Syrian refugees In other parts of the world, Australia, New Zealand, the U.S. and Canada have also promised to accept Syrian refugees. While the United States agreed in early August to admit 2,000 refugees in addition to the 90 women and children it accepted over the last two years, former citizenship and immigration minister Jason Kenney said Canada has committed to resettle up to 1,300 individuals, most of whom will be taken care of by private sponsors. In Canada, very few voices are heard advocating for Syrian refugees, one of the most prominent being that of Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who said on Aug. 30 that “we can do more around refugees in terms of bringing some of the many thousands of displaced people to Canada for a better life.” Since the closure of the Canadian Embassy in Damascus in March 2012, the situation has worsened for Syrians who have no other way to seek a visa to come to Canada. These people are currently forced to apply through the neighboring countries’ diplomatic offices. But even there, Syrians cannot seek refugee status unless registered with the UNHCR. Most striking are the numerous reports of the inflexible position and harsh behavior of Canadian Embassy staff toward relatives of Canadian citizens. None seems to be able to get a parent, a sibling or a close relative even a short-term visitor visa, or sponsor them during their stay. In fact, there’s no way to discuss directly with any Canadian diplomatic staff member so that the sponsor can offer all the necessary guarantees to relieve some family members from their vulnerable situations. If the Government of Canada, like many other governments, is acknowledging by default its political powerlessness to take a more firm stance toward the dictatorial regime of Damascus, why is it that it continues to deny compensating for this powerlessness at the humanitarian level (besides sending money) by allowing the civil society to do its share in a very controlled manner? Although less funds — as much as 20 times less — were collected for Syria than Haiti during the first week of the 2010 earthquake, and despite the recently announced $115-million aid by the government, Canadian-Syrians are ready to do their share. They have a lot to give to their countrymen and women, beginning with their family members at the very least. Why not take the example of Switzerland, which has agreed, besides the 500 refugees it has accepted for the coming year, to relax some of its immigration policies with regard to Syrian residents who are able to welcome their family members (beyond the tight circle of spouses and minor children) for a limited period, but renewable if need be? By giving a little more leverage and empowerment to Canadian citizens, the government could reinstate Canada’s legendary tradition and creativity in implementing outgoing humanitarian policies. It could do this not only through its “responsibility-to-protect doctrine pioneered by Canada and endorsed by the world’s leaders at the UN in 2005,” in the words of Prof. Errol Mendes, writing recently in the Citizen, but also by its civil society network of individuals and organizations around the country who stand ready and willing to help with this disastrous humanitarian crisis.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 18:20:00 +0000
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