Mona Alatbash leads her family on a journey to a nearby building in southern Gaza, seeking better phone signal for a video call with her sister in Cobourg, Ont. They sit in a dark corner with plastic chairs side by side, waiting for updates on their application to relocate to Canada. The family had applied under Canada’s special measures program for Palestinian Canadians’ extended families almost two years ago, but there has been no progress.
The program, initiated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in January 2024, aims to reunite families separated by conflict. Eman, Mona’s sister living in Canada for a decade, applied on the program’s opening day. However, facing delayed processing, Eman resorted to paying bribes to smuggle some family members out of Gaza.
The program, designed to help families flee conflict zones, has faced challenges including funding shortages and language barriers, hindering the quick processing of applications. Despite the arrival of 880 individuals in Canada through the program, it is now closed to new applicants due to capacity limitations.
Eman, desperate to bring her family together in Canada and haunted by the loss of her brother in the conflict, continues to navigate the arduous process. The prolonged security screenings and bureaucratic hurdles have taken a toll on her health, but she remains hopeful for a positive outcome.
As Eman’s children yearn for the presence of their extended family, she clings to the hope of a reunion, with her youngest son praying for their safe arrival with every passing airplane.
