A 12-year-old Syrian girl who fled to Winnipeg after her house was bombed says she misses her mother, who remains in Syria, but it鈥檚 unlikely she鈥檒l see her anytime soon.
Myriam and her two brothers arrived in Canada two months ago with their aunt, who led them out of Syria after their house was bombed in January 2015. Myriam鈥檚 mother, who is pregnant, decided to remain behind.
Myriam鈥檚 six-year-old sister was killed in the house bombing and Myriam, who was inside at the time, suffered serious burns all over her body, but somehow survived.
鈥淚t hurts,鈥� Myriam told CTV Winnipeg through a translator as she held up her arms. 鈥淚 was able to use my hands before. Now it鈥檚 hard for me to use my hands and my skin is pulling on me.鈥�
Myriam, whose last name is not being reported to protect her family in Syria, now faces a series of challenges. She鈥檚 learning English, adjusting to a new culture and learning how to live away from her mother.
鈥淲e were very happy in Syria and everything was okay, and then this happened and everybody has been spread out,鈥� Myriam said.
That waiting time could last for years. According to the Canadian Council for Refugees, processing time for Syrian refugees is staggeringly slow, with some resettled refugees waiting up to 30 months to reunite with their loved ones.
That time apart is too long, according to the executive director of Manitoba鈥檚 largest refugee resettlement agency.
鈥淲e would encourage a faster pace,鈥� said Rita Chahal, executive director of the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council (MIIC). 鈥淔amily reunification is essential in successful settlement. When your heart is still somewhere else, you can never completely feel settled in a new environment."
On top of the waiting time, Myriam鈥檚 aunt Safaa says she has no idea how she鈥檒l afford the estimated $12,600 cost of privately sponsoring another refugee to Canada. Safaa is currently pregnant and separated from her husband.
鈥淚t is very hard,鈥� Safaa said in Arabic, adding that she hopes 鈥淕od saves Syria.鈥�
The MIIC says there are ways to lower those costs, with donations potentially able to bring the fee down to about $4,000 to $5,000.
Immigration Canada said that as of mid-May, 8,067 Syrians overseas are registered for potential sponsorship to Canada.
Anyone hoping to sponsor a family member from Syria must prove that they can house them, feed them, support them financially and 鈥渕ake sure that their spouse or relative does not need to ask for financial help from the government,鈥� the agency said in a statement to 麻豆传媒.
Despite being separated from her family, Myriam says she understands why it was important for her aunt to bring her to Canada.
鈥淚 miss them, but I came here with my aunt for treatment, and hopefully, God-willing, Syria will settle back,鈥� Myriam said.
According to figures released in late May, Canada has resettled at least 27,000 Syrian refugees since November. Manitoba is expected to resettle about 2,000 refugees by the end of 2016.
With files from CTV Winnipeg鈥檚 Beth Macdonell
