A group of 78 Afghan refugees will arrive in Peterborough on Friday, according to officials at the Center for New Canadians in the city.
The organization that supports immigrants and refugees adjusting to life in Canada said Wednesday that the 78 are part of a group of 2,000 emergency arrivals in Toronto and are under the care of the COSTI settlement agency. Thousands of Afghans are fleeing the country after the Taliban regained control of the country in August.
Read more:
Nearly 1,300 people with ties to Canada are still in Afghanistan two weeks after the US pulled out.
Many Afghan women have gone into hiding due to the Taliban’s record of treating them as property or second-class citizens, physically punishing them in public and forcing them into unwanted marriages.
“Many families want to stay in the Toronto area to be close to family and friends,” said Andy Cragg, executive director of the New Canadians Center. “COSTI, therefore, has taken on an enormous responsibility in resettlement. Yesterday they asked us to support the resettlement of a group of 78 Afghans ”.
Cragg said many of the refugees are expected to stay in Peterborough for about four to eight weeks, but they will want to live in the Toronto area permanently.
“But while they are with us, we will provide them with temporary housing, we will help them meet their basic needs, we will provide them with basic guidelines for life in Canada and we will help them find permanent accommodation,” he said.
Cragg says the NCC is seeking the support of residents to support the refugees, which includes handing out cards and handmade drawings to welcome them. Cards can be left in the NCC mailbox outside their building at 221 Romaine St.
No other items should be dropped off at this time due to capacity issues, he noted.
“Be a welcoming and inclusive member of the community,” he said.
“Reaching a new community after having fled war and crisis can be extremely stressful.
“Being friendly and welcoming to everyone goes a long way to helping our newest residents feel good as they get to know their new community, make friends, and start over in a new country.”
The NCC is also encouraging property owners and managers to provide affordable and safe housing that they may have available.
Volunteers are also needed for NCC resettlement efforts and recruitment efforts are underway, Cragg noted.
Anyone willing to help can contact the NCC by email at [email protected] or visit their website.
© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Reference-globalnews.ca