Daunting logistical hurdles are likely before Syrians arrive THE CHALLENGES OF MOVING 25,000 PEOPLE
First came the announcement of the 25,000 Syrian refugees’ fast-tracked arrival in Canada. Now come the logistics. Admittedly, there are plenty of problems. Although numbers ramped up recently, the Harper government cut immigration staff and shrank refugee budgets over the past decade, making it more difficult to process thousands of people in the six weeks left until the end of the year. Or even the longer period that has been hinted at.
But consider the sheer logistics of getting 25,000 mainly Arabic-speaking Syrians from Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan to Canada without mishaps, missteps and the numerous setbacks that face even ordinary travellers.
“I was one of those urging caution,” said Howard Adelman, who launched a national campaign in 1979 that brought 60,000 Indochinese “boat people” to Canada in 24 months. But he added, “there was so much enthusiasm that I changed my mind.
“I sense that the mood in civil society on refugees has changed the discourse. When the government is this gutsy and ambitious, I don’t think anybody will care if they’re not all here by Jan. 1.”
Scott Mullin, labelled the “OneMan Board of Immigration” during the airlift of Vietnamese refugees from Sham Shui Po refugee camp in Hong Kong, processed thousands of people, sending off a flight every two to three days.
But, he said, this operation will be more unpredictable and difficult, be- cause the Syrian refugees won’t be coming from a single camp.
Even when they reach the airports, “flying is complicated. There are baggage limits. Women have babies. Elderly people die. And then there’s someone who forgot to add their nephew to their documentation papers, so you have six people instead of five.”
Military rather than chartered commercial transport may be a less complex way of travel, and better equipped for dealing with security problems and emergencies, says Walter Dorn, a professor of defence studies at Royal Military College of Canada.
But he warned, “it’s more expensive by far and military aircraft aren’t outfitted for large numbers of passengers. They’re meant for transporting troops who are habituated to travelling in rougher conditions.”
The world’s main agency for transporting refugees is the Geneva-based International Organization for Migration (IOM), which has a vast network of transport and logistics personnel and equipment throughout the world.
It has helped to evacuate internally displaced people from South Sudan’s brutal civil war on tiny boats, and allowed Iraqi refugees on donkeys to reach safety, as well as managing transport of hundreds of thousands of traumatized people over long distances to their final destinations.
“Typically we will be contracted to help move refugees to Canada or other countries,” said IOM spokesman Leonard Doyle. “We charter planes or work with commercial flights. In some cases we’ve used ships.”
Obtaining correct travel documents, exit permits, visas and passports where possible.
Briefing refugees on flight schedules, airline regulations, customs requirements and assistance in transit.
Transporting refugees to airports and helping with check-in, customs and immigration formalities.
Arranging air tickets, reduced fares, baggage allowances and selected routings.
Providing medical escorts and help for passengers with special needs, monitoring medical requirements on board and liaising with flight staff.
Assisting with ongoing transit, including obtaining meals or accommodation, directing to connecting flights and helping with booking adjustments.
Making sure that refugees are met by reception authorities and providing services needed until they are handed over to local authorities. Olivia Ward