Syrian refugees welcomed to Canada return the favour to Ukrainians fleeing Russian invasion
News coverage of the Russian bombardment of cities brings back painful memories
This week marks the 11th anniversary of the start of the Syrian civil war.
Looking back at more than a decade of war, many members of Manitoba's Syrian community are painfully reminded of its effects as they witness the devastating invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops.
In 2021, 80,000 refugees were resettled in Canada, with approximately 2,500 of them resettling in Manitoba, according to Immigrate Manitoba.
Joseph Chaeban is a refugee from Lebanon who came to Canada in 1988. He owns Chaeban Ice Cream with his wife, Zainab Ali, and partner Darryl Stewart.
Chaeban says the moniker of Friendly Manitoba is true — Winnipeggers didn't hesitate when he asked for help in bringing his wife's family, who are Syrian refugees, to Winnipeg.
"I just said, 'My wife's family needs help,'" Chaeban said.
"They brought three families to Canada and it was a total of 13 people. They gathered over $150,000 for them. It's like seeing angels."
When Ali was asked about her reaction to Canada preparing for an influx of refugees from Ukraine, she fought back tears.
"It brings back my memories. I wish it doesn't [happen as it did with] the Syrian war," she said.
Maysoun Darweesh, the program co-ordinator at migration and resettlement at the Mennonite Central Committee of Manitoba and the executive director of Kurdish Initiative, a non-profit aimed to help support refugees, said in the last 11 years, the Syrian community has gone from feeling excitement and fear as newcomers, to feeling resilience and gratefulness.
"I always like to use hope as a big word to represent how Syrians feel and live on a daily basis," Darweesh said.
Refugees who came as children are now grown, with goals of pursuing more education, she said. Many adults now have their own homes, a driver's licence and are continuing their study of the English language.
"For them, this is their country now. This is their final destination."
Darweesh said the start of the Ukrainian invasion was painful to the community, bringing the tragedy of the Syrian civil war to present-day Canada. The community condemns the Ukraine invasion, she said.
"When I saw Ukrainian people images, the civilians — you know, the bombing, the attack — it's just so painful," she said. "As Russia has stained hand with Syrian blood, they're doing the same in Ukraine."
On Wednesday, Russia announced a handful of humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to flee Ukraine starting Monday, although the evacuation routes were mostly leading to Russia and its ally Belarus, drawing criticism from Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continued to pummel Ukrainian cities including Mykolaiv, south of the capital of Kyiv, indicating there would be no wider cessation of hostilities.
Chaeban said whatever his family can do, they'll try.
"If anyone needs help, let us know. Because Canada helped my wife's family come and they were refugees."
Ali said people shouldn't worry about coming to Winnipeg.
"You'll find a safe place for sure. You will find peaceful people. And just don't worry. You'll be safe. You'll be good."
Darweesh is ready to support newcomer refugees with Migration and Resettlement at Mennonite Central Committee of Manitoba and Kurdish Initiative.
"Everything's going to be okay. I don't know when, but I want them to know that they are welcome here. We love them. We will do our best to help them," she said.
"We are waiting for you."
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