Syrian Refugees in BC Left Without Support, MPs Told

It's been nearly six months since the federal government began its initiative to welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees, and while finding housing was the initial challenge, a volunteer who has worked extensively with Syrians in British Columbia says once refugees leave hotels provided by the government they are virtually on their own.

"Once they're out of hotels, they've been just left alone, so [there's] not enough support for anyone," Imadeddin Sawaf told the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration Tuesday morning.

Sawaf, who works for the B.C. Construction Association when he's not assisting refugees with employment and other needs, said Syrian refugees in B.C. are "literally left alone."

Many Syrians have to find their own housing after living in hotels for months. Once they find housing, they are left to their own devices -- most cannot speak English -- to figure out how to find a family doctor and how to register their children for school, Sawaf explained.

When Conservative MP Michelle Rempel asked Sawaf what he would recommend to bridge the gap and assist refugees, Sawaf suggested the government fund a new agency or community group -- "people who are qualified" -- to help Syrians settle in the community.

Sawaf said there's no lack of funding, but the people who are there to help refugees are not qualified. He mentioned that there have been a lot of problems with interpreters who work for government-funded agencies who have difficulty speaking Arabic with Syrian refugees.

Sawaf's testimony was followed by that of Eman Allhalaq, a Syrian refugee who Sawaf helped in B.C.

Allhalaq thanked Canadians for welcoming Syrians here, and "changing our lives." Allhalaq went on to describe some very challenging experiences she's had.

Allhalaq was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after arriving in Canada and has had a lot of difficulty travelling to and from the hospital and even receiving her diagnosis because of language barriers.

She described the challenges of going to the hospital alone, without an interpreter, only to discover there was no interpreter at the hospital and having to leave and return after she found one.

"This is something we are all facing," she said.

With Sawaf's help, Allhalaq found housing on her own after living in a hotel for two months.

"Basically they told us you're on a waiting list, 40 families came to hotel, so just wait until your turn comes up. Too much waiting, I wanted to register kids at school, " she said.