Canada can set example

Even as it’s being criticized for its decision to pull out of the bombing campaign in Syria and Iraq, Canada can be proud of its humanitarian response to the crisis in Syria.

A new report from the international aid organization Oxfam singles out Canada for giving generously to help people in Syria — as well as the country’s four million refugees living in Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon.

In fact, according to Oxfam’s calculations, based on international appeals for Syrian aid and the wealth of countries, Canada met 98 per cent of its “fair share” of humanitarian funding for the region in 2015, making it one of the top five most generous countries.

Many other rich countries have fallen far short in their emergency relief donations — so far that only half of the internationally agreed target of $8.9 billion needed to help Syrians was met in 2015. Russia, to single out just one notable laggard, has coughed up only one per cent of what Oxfam regards as its fair share.

Still, there’s something else Canada can do to help ease the crisis. It can respond to Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai’s plea for Canada to donate $33 million toward a $1.4-billion US fund to educate Syrian refugee children.

The appeal by the Pakistani education activist fits well with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s goal of pulling out of the bombing campaign in Iraq and Syria and refocusing Canada’s efforts on training local forces and humanitarian support in the region.