Achi news desk-
There was tremendous relief and joy at Calgary International Airport on Saturday afternoon as Ossama Zaqqout, his wife, and his children finally welcomed his parents to Canada.
But the journey to bring his family to safety is far from over.
This is just the first of 36 members of the Zaqqout extended family who are diligently trying to help escape their war torn homeland.
Sixteen of them have reached as far as Egypt. Another 11 remain in Gaza, where Hamas continues its offensive that began last October. Eleven members of Zaqqout’s wife’s family have been killed.
Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.
“It’s been a very difficult seven months for us,” Zaqqout said. “To wake up every day to hear a cousin has been killed, a family member has been injured… It has become a daily routine for us and that is not healthy.”
In January, the Canadian government announced a special program to grant temporary safe haven and other support to extended family members of Canadian citizens.
But leaving Gaza remains challenging. The family says the costs of leaving are around $5,000 US per person.
The family has raised over $125,000 towards a goal of $400,000 to help their family members with departure fees, transportation and resettlement. But Zaqqout said money had already been spent, leaving the rest of his family in limbo as he tried to rally support.
“It’s a mixed feeling,” Zaqqout described. “I am overwhelmed with happiness to see my father but, at the same time, I am also overwhelmed with sadness that there are still people in Gaza that I cannot help to come here, again. I try as much as I can.”
Zaqqout said he hopes the Canadian government will consider providing additional assistance to help his family settle in Canada.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
