Mona Alatbash leads her family on a journey to a nearby building in Khan Younis, where the phone signal is stronger than in their tent at the displacement camp. With chairs and flashlights in hand, they gather in a dark corner for a video call with Mona’s sister Eman in Cobourg, Ont.
The Alatbash family sought entry to Canada through a special program for extended family of Palestinian Canadians almost two years ago. Despite their application, they have yet to receive any updates on their status.
Initiated in January 2024, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) program aimed to reunite families from Gaza with their Canadian relatives. However, due to delays and security checks, many families are resorting to unconventional means to bring their loved ones out of Gaza.
Eman, a resident of Canada for a decade, applied for her family’s relocation on the program’s opening day in January 2024. Facing unexpected delays, she resorted to paying bribes to smuggle some family members out of Gaza.
The family remains separated across different locations as their visa applications remain in limbo. Eman, who tragically lost a brother to the conflict, is desperate to reunite her family in Canada.
Although some individuals have successfully arrived in Canada through the special program, bureaucratic challenges have hindered the process. Lack of resources, funding delays, and a shortage of Arabic-speaking personnel have contributed to the backlog in processing applications.
Legal experts and sources familiar with the situation have highlighted the abnormal delays in security screenings for the program, emphasizing the need for expedited processes.
Eman, deeply affected by the distress of the situation, holds onto hope for a positive outcome, despite the toll it has taken on her well-being. As she navigates the complexities of the visa process, her children yearn for the day when their extended family will join them in Canada.