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The federal government will try to use video conferencingtechnology to process the visa applications of hundreds of Iraqirefugees destined for Canada who are now stranded in Syria. The refugees, about 700 of whom are destined to come to the Torontoand southern Ontario area, have been accepted by the United NationsHigh Commission for Refugees. Canada had also identified them as apriority group in need of protection. Most of them are Christian and are being sponsored privately byvarious community and church groups across Canada. The groupsprovide financial and social support for the refugees when theyarrive in the country. But in January, Canada closed its embassy and visa offices in Syriadue to the uprising and escalating violence between governmenttroops and the opposition. That meant the refugees, many of whomhave been waiting years, could not have their visa applicationscompleted. Since then, the Iraqi refugees have been caught in thecrossfire and are facing an uncertain future. Bill Brown, a spokesperson for Citizenship and Immigration Canada,told CBC News in a statement that the files for the Iraqis have nowbeen transferred to Beirut and Amman. He added that arrangementsare now being made to attempt to conduct interviews with the Iraqirefugees through video conferencing at the UN s office in Damascusand connecting with visa officers in other parts of the MiddleEast. The plan was to start this week. Meeting this weekend in Fredericton The preliminary results of this experiment will be discussed thiscoming weekend when representatives of about 85 sponsorship groupsand government officials gather for a national meeting of the inFredericton. Dr. Martin Mark, director of the Office for Refugees for theCatholic Archdiocese of Toronto (ORAT), said the plan offers hopefor the refugees, many of whom have become discouraged. He said heand others are attempting to keep in touch with them through emailsand social media. But he said it s difficult because many aredesperate and in fear of their lives. Dr. Martin Mark, director of the Office for Refugees for theArchdiocese of Toronto, updates sponsors on the situation ofrefugees in Syria. (Courtesy of Dr. Martin Mark) "We have hundreds of refugees who we initiated to bring toCanada, Mark said. We have serious problems with the securityin Syria innocent people can get attacked. They are really ingreat danger. Mark has been handling the files for about 700 Iraqi refugees inSyria. He and other church and private sponsorship groups fromacross Canada have been working with federal immigration officialsto try to get the refugees out of Syria and on their way to Canada. Earlier this month, the children of one of the refugees was injuredat their school after a massive explosion killed more than 40people in Damascus. Mark said the father sent an email, describinghow his son was covered in blood and pleading with him to help gethis family out. It is a nightmare. You never know what will happen tomorrow andwe really need to see all the efforts possible to move these peoplebefore it is too late, Mark said. Mark, a refugee from Hungary more than a decade ago, said therehave been three cases where families have given up, choosinginstead to return Iraq where he says they will inevitably be indanger. Lessons learned from Syrian tragedy Debra Presse is the director of refugee resettlement for thefederal government in Ottawa. She says the government hadrecommended the refugees from Iraq be processed in Syria, but thatwas well before anyone knew or anticipated the uprising in Syria. What has happened in Syria is certainly a tragedy not just forSyria but for our private sponsorship as well, Presse told CBCNews. What happened in Syria certainly was a good lesson learnedfor us, she said. We have to have more than one visa office forreferred populations. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Diode Laser Hair Removal Manufacturer , RF Beauty Equipment Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Co2 Fractional Laser Machine today!
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