We are so happy to share this incredible news! The first of 11 war-traumatized Gaza refugee families that we have tried to reunite in Canada received their temporary resident permits today, almost two months after we started our intensive reunification campaign.
Public pressure and a lot of detailed paperwork mean that Abdallah Alhamadni can now hug his family for the first time in over 2 years. He no longer has to fear that his wife and boys will die in a hail of missile strikes.
While we celebrate this victory, we need to keep up the pressure to get permits for the other 10 families who have been separated for 2 to 4 years.
We also need to prepare for the arrival of Alhamadni and, hopefully soon, the other families, by raising funds for airfare and accommodation as well as support to allow them to get resettled.
If you can contribute to the family reunification fund, please send an etransfer to the Rural Refugee Rights Network at tasc@web.ca To send a cheque, write it out to Homes not Bombs, put Gaza Families in memo, and mail to 2583 Carling Ave., Unit M052, Ottawa ON K2B 7H7
As part of the public pressure, please continue sharing and promoting the family reunification petition: https://www.change.org/p/allow-war-traumatized-kids-from-gaza-to-live-with-parents-in-canada
Thanks to all who fasted, who lobbied, who called, who prayed, who proofread, who contributed submission ideas, who provided legal and political guidance, who opened their hearts to allow this family's hearts to begin healing from war, separation, and the unlivable conditions of Gaza under the occupation.
While we celebrate this victory, we need to keep up the pressure to get permits for the other 10 families who have been separated for 2 to 4 years.
We also need to prepare for the arrival of Alhamadni and, hopefully soon, the other families, by raising funds for airfare and accommodation as well as support to allow them to get resettled.
If you can contribute to the family reunification fund, please send an etransfer to the Rural Refugee Rights Network at tasc@web.ca To send a cheque, write it out to Homes not Bombs, put Gaza Families in memo, and mail to 2583 Carling Ave., Unit M052, Ottawa ON K2B 7H7
As part of the public pressure, please continue sharing and promoting the family reunification petition: https://www.change.org/p/allow-war-traumatized-kids-from-gaza-to-live-with-parents-in-canada
Thanks to all who fasted, who lobbied, who called, who prayed, who proofread, who contributed submission ideas, who provided legal and political guidance, who opened their hearts to allow this family's hearts to begin healing from war, separation, and the unlivable conditions of Gaza under the occupation.
And special thanks as always to the courageous woman who helped open this door when she took the story of her own family to the national airwaves, Jihan Qunoo, whose family is now getting accustomed to their new, happy life in Ottawa.
Let's keep pushing until everyone is safely reunited and home!
Matthew Behrens
Rural Refugee Rights Network
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