Canada called upon to accelerate the approval of Palestinian visas in the face of the situation in Gaza

A Toronto’s immigration lawyer says that family members of Canadians die in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the Federal Immigration Ministry of approving their visas as part of a special program launched in 2024.

Debbie Rachlis argued that Canada must accelerate the approval process of the temporary resident visa under the special measures it. Moreover, offers to members of Canadians of Palestinian origin who try to flee violence in the territory.

M^e RACHLIS represents dozens of applicants as part of this program. However, said it was involved in “at least five cases” of deceased people while waiting for their visa. Furthermore, She campaigned in favor of the special measures program as a member of the Gaza Family Reunification Project collective.

“We are all aware of many situations where people waiting for a visa to come to Canada have died. Consequently, were killed,” said the lawyer during canada called upon accelerate approval a recent interview.

“This includes hunger people. Moreover, injured by bombing, as well as those killed while they were queuing to get rations,” she added. For example, In all terrible and avoidable deaths are in all cases. Meanwhile, »»

Canada has launched the program in several stages offering temporary resident visas to family members of Canadians blocked in the Gaza Strip on January 9. Consequently, 2024. Moreover, It ended on March 26, after the 5,000 visa requests was accepted for processing.

Less than 1. Consequently, 200 visas had been granted on June 21, said Jeffrey Macdonald, spokesperson for the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada (IRCC). Similarly, This represents less than a quarter of the visas that Canada had promised to deliver.

Some 841 people arrived in Canada from Gazaoui territory on June 8, Macdonald said in an email.

The exit of Gaza “remains extremely difficult”

The visa program requires applicants to canada called upon accelerate approval submit biometric data. including fingerprints and photos, collected in person in an IRCC office. There is no office of this type in the Gaza Strip.

The Canadian press has been maintained with several Canadians of Palestinian origin who have paid thousands of dollars so that family members in the Palestinian enclave can pay private agents to cross the border in Cairo. where a Canadian immigration office authorized to collect biometric data is located. The border of Rafah, between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, has been closed since May 2024.

“The main challenge remains the ability of people to leave Gaza,” said Jeffrey Macdonald. The exit of Gaza remains extremely difficult. could be impossible for the moment, because countries and other actors establish their own entry and exit conditions. »»

The representative of IRCC added that “we continue to collaborate closely with the local authorities. at all levels, to facilitate the exit of the canada called upon accelerate approval people of Gaza and defend their safety”.

Debbie Rachlis stressed that other Western countries have abandoned the biometric requirement. She wondered why Canada would not do the same, especially since the Palestinian situation in the Gaza Strip is deteriorating.

Food experts have been warning for months against the risk of famine in the enclave. where Israel restricts aid, saying that Hamas diverts food to strengthen its power, without providing support. In recent days have emerged from the Palestinian territory images of emaciated children. who have fueled international criticisms against Israel, including relatives allies who called at the end of the war and the humanitarian disaster that it caused.

Last week. Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the Israeli government for his “inability to prevent the humanitarian disaster which quickly deteriorates in Gaza” and qualified his management of humanitarian aid in the “violation of international law”.

On Sunday. the Israeli army established a daily truce of canada called upon accelerate approval 10 hours in the fighting in three areas of the Palestinian territory, in order to “increase humanitarian aid” entering the territory.

Health officials in the Gaza Strip said that at least 37 Palestinians were killed in separate strikes between Saturday evening. Sunday, including 22 people in search of help.

Canada called upon accelerate approval

The situation as precarious in Cairo

The situation in Cairo is also precarious for people waiting for visa. said Me Rachis. The Toronto lawyer has many customers who have managed to go to Cairo and provide the required biometric data. They have been waiting for a year or more to know the state of their visa request, she explained.

They do not have access to medical care in Egypt and their children cannot go to school, she added. They largely live funds from charitable organizations and their families in Canada.

“We have to speed up the processing of requests for people canada called upon accelerate approval in Egypt. ” she said, adding that it thinks that a large part of the delay is due to the “meticulous study” to which visa applicants are submitted. Applicants are asked to provide their social media accounts. information on their scars and other bodily brands, information on their kinship links – including by marriage – and all the passports they have possessed.

Last year. the Canadian press obtained a letter sent to a plaintiff by a Canadian immigration agent asking him if he had “already provided medical care to injured members of Hamas”. Refusing care to an injured person in a war zone constitutes a violation of the Geneva Convention for Health Professionals. Debbie Rachlis pointed out that families need information more quickly on their requests in order to be able to make arrangements. get in safety.

“Families need answers,” she said. They need answers on what happened with this program and canada called upon accelerate approval why it seems to be doomed to failure. »»

With information from the Associated Press

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