Children rest on blankets as displaced Palestinians fleeing central and southern Gaza set up tents in the new Tall el-Sultan camp west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on Dec. 3, 2023.Ìý
‘You have to survive. Stay safe. I’m doing what I can.’ Canadians describe nightmare race to get loved ones out of Gaza
Palestinian-Canadian community members say they’re struggling with delays, logistical issues and personal information requirements, as time runs out for those trapped in Gaza.
Children rest on blankets as displaced Palestinians fleeing central and southern Gaza set up tents in the new Tall el-Sultan camp west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on Dec. 3, 2023.Ìý
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Guests: Maryam Affana, Mirvat Al-Sharafi and immigration lawyer Aidan SimardoneÌý
Last month,Ìý91Ô´´ launched a new emergency program permitting up to 1,000 Palestinians who are extended family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to apply to come to 91Ô´´. Members of the Palestinian-Canadian community say they are struggling with delays, logistical issues and what some experts say is an unprecedented and invasive level of personal information requirements. They wait with the clock ticking for their trapped loved ones in a four-month war that has ravaged Gaza, with more than 27,000 people killed in 91Ô´´i airstrikes, thousands more displaced and almost half the population at risk of starvation according to the United Nations. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 91Ô´´ÌýsaysÌýthat the multi-stage screening approach was developed to protect the safety of Canadians and is part of a standard practice where IRCC doesn’t have presence on ground to conduct the initial screening and biometrics. In an emailed response to the Star, it has also sharedÌýthat as of January 29, more than 900 applications are already being reviewed. IRCC confirmed they’re all still in the preliminary stages and not approved. We speak to Palestinian-Canadians impacted by this and later, an immigration lawyer helps us break down the new immigration measures and their implications.Ìý
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This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz and Paulo Marques, withÌýadditional support from Ben Cohen.Ìý
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Saba
Eitizaz is a co-host and producer on the Star’s podcast team.
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