Media Release
Syrian Canadian Council
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Montreal, Sept. 2, 2015 – The outpouring of support from Canadians towards the Syrian refugee crisis has been overwhelming. The Syrian Canadian Council has been inundated with requests on how people can help refugees going forward.
“We are asking people to send an email to their government representatives. It is crucial at this time that Minister Alexander, the Prime Minister and all those in the opposition, understand that Canada MUST open its doors to help with the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis in the world.” Faisal Alazem, spokesperson for the Syrian Canadian Council said this morning.
“Unfortunately, 4 years of constant lobbying for a family reunification program to protect the families of Syrian Canadians has been denied. Similar programs were implemented after the typhoon in the Philippines and the earthquake in Haiti, but not for Syrians, who suffer from the largest refugee crisis in the world.”
“If this program existed 3 year ago Aylan Kurdi would still be alive today. We know that his aunt was trying to bring him to Canada with no other alternatives except the tedious private sponsorship route. Her application was rejected. We ask for people to help pressure the government to end these unnecessary deaths.”
“We also ask that Canada help Syrians stop the senseless barrel bombing by the Assad regime by helping Turkey establish a No Fly Zone. This will stop Assad’s daily reign of deadly bombs on schools, hospitals and markets. It will keep people safely in their homes and stop the outflow of refugees.”
For people who would like to send financial assistance or sponsor a refugee, please see the information listed below.
Send an email
Send emails to Members of Parliament, Immigration Minister, etc.. You can use the example below or write your own heartfelt letter. Contact Information is below:
Dear Hon. [Minister Alexander],
After seeing the tragic photo of the Syrian child found dead on the shores of Turkey, I believe that the government is not doing enough to help more Syrian refugees come to Canada. Accepting only 2300 Syrians over the past 4 years of a crisis that’s created over 10 million displaced people is an embarrassment. Furthermore, only prioritizing people based on their religion is against everything Canada stands for as a nation.
I ask you to open the doors to more Syrian refugees to prevent more deaths like Aylan Kurdi’s from continuing to happen. Please instate a family reunification program to protect the families of Syrian Canadians. Similar programs were implemented after the typhoon in the Philippines and the earthquake in Haiti, but not for Syrians which the largest refugee crisis in the world.
If this program existed, 3 year old Aylan Kurdi would still be alive today. We know that his aunt was trying to bring him to Canada with no other alternatives except the tedious private sponsorship route. Her application was rejected. We ask for you to end these unnecessary deaths.
We also ask that Canada help Syrians stop the senseless barrel bombing by the Assad regime by helping Turkey establish a No Fly Zone. This will stop Assad’s daily reign of deadly bombs on schools, hospitals and markets. It will keep people safely in their homes and stop the outflow of refugees.
Thank you,
[NAME]
Contact Information:
Minister Chris Alexander: Chris.Alexander@parl.gc.ca
Prime Minister Stephen Harper: stephen.harper@parl.gc.ca
Paul Dewar: paul.dewar@parl.gc.ca
Tom Mulcair: thomas.mulcair@parl.gc.ca
Justin Trudeau: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca
Elizabeth May: Elizabeth.May@parl.gc.ca
Give to the following charities:
UOSSM-Canada – The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations is a charitable medical relief organization that provides humanitarian and medical assistance to all Syrian victims of war regardless of their religion, ethnicity or political affiliation. UOSSM-Canada also aims to strengthen the capacity of the health care delivery system in crisis affected areas, and coordinates efforts with other organizations in Canada and abroad to deliver support and raise awareness for the Syrian medical and humanitarian crisis.
http://uossm-canada.org/supporter/
NuDay Syria is a non-profit organization focused on bringing humanitarian aid inside Syria and to help displaced Syrians in the bordering areas around Syria. We focus on bringing housing and food to displaced families with single mothers or wounded family members. We are especially concerned with the lack of safe shelter and living for single mothers with daughters.
http://www.nudaysyria.net/support.html
The Syrian Kids Foundation (SKF) aims to offer humanitarian relief and social services to Syrian refugees from all different backgrounds, sects and religions. The services include free education, psychological counselling, social relief, recreational activities, and essential subsidies. Al Salam School in Reyhanli-Turkey, a project of SKF, blends the best of Syrian and Canadian values — to rebuild trust, self-worth, compassion, and open-mindedness in Syrian refugee children. We aim to empower a new generation with a worldview that would help create the necessary conditions to establish a democratic society.
Karam Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to help people help themselves.
We seek to restore the dignity and quality of life for people affected by conflict by eliminating barriers to success through innovative education, entrepreneurial development, and community-driven aid.
http://www.karamfoundation.org/donate/
Project Amal ou Salam is a volunteer-run grassroots organization that sponsors schools and provides workshops for Syrian refugee children. We use music, art, sports, photography and team-building activities to teach the kids about trust and unity and help them deal with the trauma they have sustained.
http://projectamalousalam.org/donate/
Islamic Relief works with communities to strengthen their resilience to calamities, and we provide vital emergency aid when disasters occur.
We help the impoverished access basic services, including education, water and sanitation, as well as healthcare. We provide lasting routes out of poverty through our sustainable development schemes. Our integrated approach to progress is transforming communities worldwide. http://islamicreliefcanada.org/donate/
Help sponsor a refugee
Sponsor Refugees Financially
Private sponsorship requires that private citizens cover the living expenses of refugees for their first year of settlement in Canada. You can become a financial sponsor by joining an existing sponsorship group or creating your own.
Sponsor Refugees by providing settlement support
Private sponsorship requires that private citizens support the settlement of refugees into Canadian society for their first year in Canada. We need Canadians to join existing sponsorship groups. This ensures non-Syrian Canadian sponsors and Syrian refugees have a Syrian connection in Canada.
Spread the Word
Lifeline Syria is engaging the Canadian general public to bring Syrian refugees to Canada. Share our work to help create awareness.
For more information about this please visit: www.lifelinesyria.ca
Media Contact:
Faisal Alazem
faisal.alazem@gmail.com
438-994-6293
The Drawing Board 