Canada ‘very proud’ of White Helmet resettlement effort: Ahmed Hussen

Canada, however, views them as advocates who “performed an amazing and brave service on behalf of humanity in the civil war in Syria,” Hussen said.

“They not only helped rescue people who were caught in the conflict, they also collected evidence of war crimes, and that is why they were threatened directly by the Assad regime,” he said. “Canada was called upon by the international community directly to respond. It wasn’t just us, it was a collection of countries … and we responded immediately.”

Canada’s involvement began in early July, when Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland attended the North American Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Brussels, according to a senior government official who spoke to The Canadian Press on condition of anonymity. Freeland, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt all expressed their shared concern about the danger facing the White Helmets following a deadly Syrian government offensive in mid-June, which unfolded with Russian support.

The evacuation eventually saw 422 White Helmets and their families moved from Syria into Jordan, although others were reportedly unable to escape the expanding reach of the Assad and allied forces.

The volunteers are being screened and resettled in numerous countries, including France, Argentina, Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Details of exactly how many people are being brought to Canada and where they are being settled are not being shared for security reasons, Hussen’s department said. Hussen said those who have arrived so far are quietly making new lives in Canada.

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Teresa Wright, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Canada ‘very proud’ of White Helmet resettlement effort: Ahmed Hussen

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