Kurdi family finally arrives in Canada

Relatives of Alan Kurdi – the toddler whose limp body was photographed on a Turkish beach this year, becoming a heartbreaking symbol of the Syrian refugee crisis – arrived on Monday in Canada where they hope to rebuild their lives.

Mohammed Kurdi, his wife and five children wiped away tears when they were greeted by a party of welcomers with Canadian flags and balloons as well as Tima Kurdi, his sister and private sponsor for coming to Canada. “We nearly lost hope, but thank you to the Canadian government and Canadian people who made it happen”, said Mohammad.

After working for years to bring her own relatives to Canada, Alan’s death thrust Kurdi into the global spotlight as a spokeswoman for the refugees’ plight.

Tima’s initial application to bring in Mohammad and his family to Canada was rejected by Citizenship and Immigration Canada as incomplete.

Mohammed Kurdi, his wife and children will stay with Tima and her family in British Columbia for now.

Their 3-year-old nephew, Alan Kurdi, drowned along with his five-year-old brother and mother while trying to cross the waters between Turkey and Greece in September.

“And my message to refugees and people who struggle all over the world, I’m just going to tell them there is always light at the end of the tunnel…”

His sister Tima spoke of her desire to see her brother join them in Canada saying, “All of us here wish you were here with us”.

In Canada, the newly-elected Liberal government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau campaigned on the promise to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February.

Officials wanted a difficult-to-obtain United Nations document, according to Tima.

Speaking through his sister, who translated from Arabic, Mohammed Kurdi thanked Canadians and their government for making his dreams come true.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country would take in hundreds of thousands of refugees annually for years ahead.

Perhaps it’s us who should be giving thanks to her, rather than the other way around. “With the help of my brothers and the family, we’ll all get them on their feet and show them around”. The extended family of Alan reunited with his aunt, Tima Kurdi, in Vancouver upon arrival.

The boat capsized, and Abdullahs wife and two sons drowned.

Abdullah Kurdi has chosen to remain in the Middle East.

Alan’s father, Abdullah Kurdi, now lives in Iraq and said after the death of his family that he would not move to Canada. We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about.