A Canadian child rescued by government officials from Syria is coming home, the charity said today

October 5, 2020 – TORONTO: Following the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne’s announcement today, Canada is bringing home a Canadian child orphaned in North East Syria, Save the Children’s CEO Bill Chambers said:

“We are thrilled to see that the Canadian government has taken steps to bring back Canadian children trapped in North East Syria. We’re proud to have cared for this child in the camp and supported the Canadian government to bring them home.

While taking back one child is a start, the Canadian Government must take steps to repatriate the remaining children trapped in Syria and their families. These children have lived through horrific incidents and are the first victims of ISIS having lived under them for years. Recently eight children under the age of five died in just five days and coronavirus has reached the camps, raising fears of a devastating outbreak.

This news shows that it is possible for the Government of Canada to bring the children back home to allow them to recover in safety. Save the Children is working across camps in North East Syria, including running centres caring for children from several different nationalities.

There are more than 9,000 foreign children in the region altogether, including some remaining Canadian children. Altogether there are around 43,000 children in the largest camp, Al Hol, out of a total population of 65,000.”

ENDS

Note to editors:

• Save the Children is working across camps in North East Syria, including running a centre caring for children of 20 nationalities.
• There are more than 9,000 foreign children in the region altogether, including about 25 Canadian children. Altogether there are around 43,000 children in the largest camp, Al Hol, out of a total population of 65,000.