Thousands of Gazans left waiting for green light on temporary visa
After enduring months of the war in Gaza, Waseem Elrayyes and his family have been fortunate to escape to Canada under the federal government’s temporary visa program. Elrayyes, along with his wife, five children, mother, and brother, have been living in Nepean with his sister Ola Alrayyes since October 31, 2024. Their journey to Canada was marked by hardship, as they had to shelter in crowded buildings and a tent in Gaza after their own home was destroyed. In fact, Elrayyes’s youngest child was born during the war.
Speaking through his sister, who acted as an interpreter due to Elrayyes not speaking English, he recounted the harrowing experience of living through the conflict. The constant fear of not knowing if each day would be their last took a toll on the entire family. The children, in particular, suffered from anxiety and other mental health issues as a result of the traumatic circumstances.
The Canadian government introduced a special measure last January to allow eligible Gazans to stay in Canada for up to three years in most cases. Initially capped at 1,000 visas, the program saw a surge in demand, leading Immigration Minister Marc Miller to increase the number of available visas to 5,000. Ola Alrayyes applied on behalf of 29 family members, but only 16 have arrived in Canada so far. She emphasized the importance of the Canadian government taking additional steps to help those still in Gaza waiting for a chance to escape.
As of January 4, 2025, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reported that 4,782 applications had been deemed eligible, but only 616 individuals had arrived in Canada under the temporary policy. The process faced a major hurdle at the border, where applicants were required to exit Gaza to complete their biometrics in Egypt. However, movement out of Gaza remained challenging, leading to delays in processing applications.
Despite the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that began on January 15, Jamie Liew, a law professor at the University of Ottawa specializing in immigration and refugee law, expressed concern over the slow progress in helping Gazans relocate to Canada. She urged the Canadian government to act swiftly while the ceasefire provided a window of opportunity. Elrayyes echoed this sentiment, fearing that the pause in violence would be short-lived and that Gaza’s infrastructure would pose significant challenges for its residents in the aftermath of the war.
The Elrayyes family’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict and the urgent need for countries like Canada to extend a helping hand to those seeking refuge from war-torn regions. As they rebuild their lives in a new country, their resilience and determination stand as a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
