:
Mr. Chair, thank you for the opportunity to appear before your committee to discuss this important topic and to update the committee on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's work on resettling survivors of Daesh to Canada.
[Translation]
I am joined today by Corinne Prince, director general of IRCC's settlement and integration policy branch, and by Jean-Marc Gionet, the acting senior director of the resettlement operations division. Also joining us today are Sean Boyd, the executive director for Middle East relations, and his colleague Tara Carney.
My colleagues and I will be pleased to answer any of your questions following my brief opening remarks.
[English]
As you know, in October of 2016 the House of Commons voted unanimously in support of a motion for the Government of Canada to provide protection to Yazidi women and girls who are fleeing genocide.
As Canada offers protection on the basis of vulnerability, rather than religion or ethnicity, the government's response to this motion focused on all survivors of Daesh for whom resettlement would be an appropriate solution. The government committed to resettling 1,200 survivors of Daesh, including vulnerable Yazidi women and children, by the end of 2017. We have also been prioritizing any applications for privately sponsored refugees who are survivors of Daesh.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has worked closely with the United Nations Refugee Agency, the International Organization for Migration, resettlement assistance program service provider organizations in Canada, and other partners in order to meet this commitment.
The UNHCR has helped us to identify vulnerable Yazidi women and children and other survivors of Daesh and their family members, both inside and outside of Iraq.
Mr. Chair, I am happy to report that as of October 29, 807 survivors have already arrived in Canada, 747 as government-assisted refugees and 60 as privately sponsored refugees. Of those 807 individuals, 81% are Yazidi, including 230 women, 178 men, and 398 children. Of all the individuals who arrived in Canada by October 29, 39% came from Iraq, 35% from Lebanon, and 26% from Turkey.
We have identified and interviewed all remaining cases to be resettled. Of the 1,383 individuals who have been referred to us, almost all of the remaining are from Iraq and the applications are all well in process.
[Translation]
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada remains committed to meeting the target of resettling 1,200 survivors of Daesh by the end of this year, notwithstanding the fact that operating in the region is complex and can pose risks to the welfare and safety of the refugees, our partners, and our staff.
We continue to monitor political and security developments in the region, and to assess any possible implications this may have on our operation.
[English]
We also continue to schedule or reschedule flights for those whose travel was cancelled in September and October due to the ongoing international flight ban out of the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Although refusal rates are low, arrivals are sometimes delayed for medical, logistical, or other reasons.
As we mentioned at the outset of this initiative, we don't want to bring these vulnerable individuals to Canada in large groups, as they need added supports that we want to ensure are in place in the receiving communities.
Barring any new, emerging security, exit, or transportation considerations beyond our control, we expect to reach our goal of welcoming 1,200 individuals to Canada by December 31.
In addition to the 1,200 government-assisted refugees that represent the government commitment, we are also facilitating the private sponsorship of individuals who fall within this vulnerable group, so more Yazidi women and girls as well as other survivors of Daesh, are arriving in Canada as privately sponsored refugees.
In choosing where to send new arrivals, we considered the extent to which communities had an existing Yazidi diaspora, adequate medical and psychosocial supports, availability of interpreters, and social service provider organizations with experience with similar population groups.
We also took into consideration the advice of Yazidi leaders in Iraq and Canada who emphasized the importance of connections to the religious community in Canada, allowing for the organic formation of community networks amongst the newly resettled families.
[Translation]
To date, the majority of arrivals under this initiative have been received in Toronto, London, Winnipeg, and Calgary. We anticipate sending individuals and families to Lethbridge as well.
Of course, when applicants identify a connection to another location in Canada, all efforts are made to ensure that they are destined to an area where they can be close to family or friends and be able to receive necessary supports.
[English]
To assist our service provider organizations with the settlement and integration needs of this population, migration officers and physicians with the International Organization for Migration identified specific medical and resettlement needs for each individual and this was shared in advance of their arrival. As well, our department developed and circulated a Yazidi population profile detailing demographic and health characteristics as well as cultural considerations for this vulnerable population.
To assist their successful settlement and integration, all government-assisted refugees, including the survivors of Daesh, receive settlement services both pre- and post-arrival. As such, the International Organization for Migration delivers “orientation to Canada” training to all survivors of Daesh before their departure. This orientation provides them with accurate, relevant information and supports, so that they can make informed decisions about their new life in Canada, develop realistic expectations, and begin the settlement process.
In Canada, IRCC-funded resettlement assistance program service providers play a major role in welcoming the survivors of Daesh and providing transportation centres. Their role is to provide post-arrival services to government-supported refugees to address their immediate and essential needs.
Following their initial settlement, the newcomers receive support services from IRCC-funded settlement service providers including, among other things, language training, crisis counselling, and interpretation. There are also targeted services for youth, such as settlement support services in schools, homework clubs, and art and recreation-based activities, that are available.
The organizations here in Canada have been coordinating and sharing lessons learned amongst themselves, as well as our department, to meet the needs of these newcomers. In addition, IRCC-funded local immigration partnerships, known as LIPs, are providing support to survivors of Daesh. These LIPs are playing an important role in facilitating supports during the process of resettling and integrating Syrian refugees. They have partnership networks that aim to coordinate services for newcomers at the local, community level, by bringing together various stakeholders. Those include employers, school boards, health centres, other levels of government, service provider organizations, professional associations, ethnocultural and faith-based organizations, and others in the social services sector.
[Translation]
Finally, the department also monitors progress in meeting our commitment to the resettlement of these newcomers to Canada.
Regular meetings are held at the local level between the department and service providers, to address challenges, discuss progress in addressing our commitment and lessons learned, and any other issues that may need attention. We are engaging these organizations again later this week.
Mr. Chair, I have provided an overview of where our operation to resettle survivors of Daesh currently stands. My colleagues and I will now be happy to answer any questions the committee members might pose, and to provide any further details that members request.
Thank you very much.
I will now make way for my colleague from Global Affairs Canada.
:
Good morning, Mr. Chair and honourable members of this committee.
I have been asked to provide an update on Canada's engagement in Iraq and to outline the current situation in the country. I hope this will provide some useful context for today's discussion on the Yazidi resettlement program.
[Translation]
Last year, my predecessor briefed you on the expansion of our diplomatic presence in Iraq. The expansion has allowed Canada to deepen its relations with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government. Our diplomatic staff has regular access to a wide range of interlocutors within the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government. We also have regular interactions with local officials such as governors and mayors, the United Nations, as well as community representatives and civil society organizations.
[English]
The majority of Iraqi Yazidis live in the northern region of Iraq, in Nineveh province and parts of the Kurdistan region. The two largest communities are in Sheikhan, northeast of Mosul, and in Sinjar, which is near the Syrian border, 80 kilometres west of Mosul. Both of these are in Nineveh province.
Following the siege of Sinjar by Daesh in 2014, many Yazidis fled their communities. They ended up in camps for internally displaced persons, or IDPs, in host communities within Iraq, mainly in Dohuk, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah provinces, or as refugees in other countries like Turkey and Greece. Our increased presence in Erbil has enabled us to engage regularly with different representatives from the Yazidi community and maintain discussions with local authorities and the United Nations. The office of the Canadian embassy in Erbil has also provided assistance to IRCC's selection teams who travelled to Iraq to complete the necessary screening of resettlement applicants.
[Translation]
The Iraqi security forces and Kurdish forces have made significant progress over the past year against Daesh, notably by liberating Mosul and Hawija. The situation across Iraq continues to be fluid however. Security in parts of the country, including in the Kurdistan region, remains volatile.
Global Affairs Canada has recommended that Canadians avoid travel to the country and we are monitoring the situation to ensure the safety and security of our staff. Iraq will be heading into parliamentary elections in May of 2018. There may be tensions in the lead-up to those elections.
[English]
On September 25, the Kurdistan Regional Government held a referendum on independence, despite a ruling by the supreme court of Iraq declaring the referendum unconstitutional. The Government of Iraq responded by deploying Iraqi security forces to take control of several disputed territories near the borders of the Kurdistan region, including Kirkuk, Sinjar, and areas surrounding Mosul. It also cancelled all international flights into the Kurdistan region and took over some border crossings previously controlled by Kurdish authorities.
Flight restrictions have made travel in and out of the Kurdistan region more difficult for international visitors, and it is not yet clear when the restrictions will be lifted. The Iraqi security forces took over control of these regions without major incident, though a few minor clashes did occur, particularly around Kirkuk. The composition of the Kurdistan government remains uncertain, as do next steps in the ongoing political standoff with Baghdad.
Heading into the national elections in 2018, the fundamental differences over constitutional rights and wealth sharing remain unresolved.
In the fight against Daesh, the Iraqi security forces with the assistance of the Global Coalition against Daesh continue to liberate Daesh's remaining pockets of territory in western Iraq. Daesh's control has been dramatically reduced, and it now holds less than 10% of the country. Iraqi and international efforts are now increasingly focusing on stabilizing liberated areas and creating an enabling environment for reconciliation. The conflict has created millions of internally displaced persons with estimates of approximately 400,000 Yazidis living in IDP camps or in host communities. The conflict has also left entire cities and villages in complete ruin. The Global Coalition has placed immediate priority on clearing these areas of unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices, and reinstating basic services such as water, electricity, and education, where possible.
Canada is supporting these efforts, but it will take time and many Iraqis will require continued humanitarian assistance for the foreseeable future.
[Translation]
Canada's humanitarian assistance is provided on the basis of vulnerability and needs. Given that the Yazidis are a particularly vulnerable group that has been disproportionately affected by Daesh's campaign of violence, they are part of the population supported through our humanitarian assistance. For example, our UN partners are providing comprehensive services in the camps and host communities where the Yazidis have sought refuge. This includes food, water, access to education, medical care and shelter to displaced Yazidis.
[English]
In particular, with Canadian support, the United Nations Population Fund has established a women's centre at the Dohuk hospital, which provides clinical and non-clinical treatment for the most extreme cases of sexual and gender-based violence. Between September 2014 and October 2016, a total of 824 survivors received assistance at this centre, including Yazidi women and girls who have suffered atrocities under Daesh. The centre continues to function today.
In addition, our funding to NGO partners over the past few years has enabled the provision of health care services at IDP camps and in communities where many Yazidis are located. Through multi-year programming under Canada's Middle East strategy, we are providing over $150 million in humanitarian assistance to Iraq to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, including the Yazidis.
The conflict with Daesh has also exacerbated inter-sectarian divisions and created an environment of distrust amongst communities. Many, including minority groups, fear discrimination or reprisal if they return to their homes. Canada is assisting in stabilization and reconciliation efforts in hopes of creating an enabling environment that will allow internally displaced persons to return home safely. This includes funding the clearance of unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices and supporting community-level dispute resolution and reconciliation initiatives. To this end, Canada is supporting anti-retribution campaigns, supporting community action groups focused on addressing potential local conflict, and supporting institutions addressing property and land disputes in northern Iraq. Ultimately, our stabilization efforts are addressing some of the very challenges that enable Daesh to divide communities in northern Iraq, including traditional Yazidi areas.
The Yazidis have suffered horrendous atrocities at the hands of Daesh. The United Nations' Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic has found that these acts of violence constitute genocide. Members of the Yazidi community have told us that they do not feel safe and that they continue to fear Daesh sleeper cells and other forms of religious extremism.
Canada's resettlement program is assisting the most vulnerable of the community, women and children, who have survived inhumane abuses against them, but Canada is also assisting the Yazidis and other vulnerable minorities who remain in Iraq. By providing humanitarian assistance and supporting stabilization efforts, we hope the Yazidis can eventually return to their homes and continue practising their culture and religion in freedom.
Thank you again for the invitation to appear before you today.
[English]
Honourable members of Parliament, I'm very pleased to be back at this committee to speak about the situation of the survivors of ISIS who have been relocated to Canada.
First, thank you to Canada for having offered this opportunity for UNHCR to work with the Iraqi authorities and the Canadian authorities on the relocation of the most vulnerable survivors of Daesh. In particular we have been working very closely in Iraq both with the central government in Baghdad and with the authorities in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and particularly three departments: the department of public health, which as you have heard is supported by another UN agency in providing support to victims of sexual violence; the directorate combatting violence against women, which is co-chairing with the UNHCR the protection working group in Kurdistan; and the directorate of labour and social affairs, which is primarily concerned with working with children.
We had a common objective with Canada, and as mentioned earlier, with Germany, which also provided a number of relocation spaces. The common objective was to identify the most vulnerable survivors of Daesh who could not survive or who needed specific treatment that was not available in Kurdistan where they were living. Therefore, we worked with all the partners to identify those survivors in a safe and dignified manner.
One key element of all those relocation and resettlement programs is really to ensure the dignity of the people concerned and their freedom of choice, for them to be informed about what relocation or resettlement entails. Ultimately, it's very much the decision of the individual to leave a country to be resettled or relocated to a country such as Canada.
It is outside our traditional legal mandate to do relocation of persons who are still within the boundaries of their own country, but we have done that in exceptional cases when we were not able to provide assistance and protection to the people concerned.
We focused primarily on survivors of sexual violence—women and girls, but as mentioned earlier, we also need to recognize that violence of a sexual nature has been exercised against men and boys as well—persons who had been held captive by Daesh for prolonged periods and subjected to forced religious conversion, physical and psychological torture and abuse, risk of trafficking, forced labour; and people who had been separated from their families.
In doing so, we also reached out to our partners on the ground to get referrals not only from the three directorates I mentioned, of public health, social affairs, and the directorate to combat violence against women, but also our NGOs, not only in Iraq but also in Canada. I personally met a number of NGOs that were showing interest in providing us with lists of names. As a result, four NGOs in Canada have submitted names. They are the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society, the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, and the office for refugees of the Archdiocese of Toronto. They have submitted altogether 34 names, out of which 18 were already in the database of the Kurdish authorities, and therefore, in the database of UNHCR. They provided altogether an additional 16 names, which were presented to the Canadian authorities.
I will make a point that is a little outside the purview of this study, but as you well know, the resettlement or relocation addresses only the most vulnerable cases and it is usually less than 1% of the refugee population.
I want to note our worries regarding the funding for the operation in Iraq. As we speak, at the end of our fiscal year, which is the end of December, we will have received less than 20% of the funding required to assist more than four million displaced, including among those displaced, a large number of people who have been subjected to abuse by Daesh.
I'm saying this because, while we do very much appreciate the opportunity to relocate the most vulnerable, we also need to be able to provide assistance and protection to the people who are still in Iraq, including in Kurdistan, including victims and survivors of Daesh. With only 18% of our budget, that makes our life extremely complicated, and that's our problem. It really makes the survival and the protection assistance that we can offer to the displaced extremely limited.
I will stop there, and I will be happy to answer questions from members of Parliament.
:
Thank you very much, Chair.
I'm not a regular member of this committee, but in a previous life I did a great deal of research on the Yazidi and Kurdish issues. I taught on those subjects as well, so I've been following this question closely.
I want to ask you a general question at the outset. As you well know, the High Commissioner for Refugees was here yesterday. I watched a few interviews with him, and the issue of asylum seekers came up in the following way.
The questions posed to him by journalists made the point that because Canada has been dealing with asylum seekers, particularly in the summer months, perhaps this would dampen the interest that Canadians have in continuing to welcome refugees. He made the point that Canada remains a welcoming country.
For your purposes, and for his purposes, and for the purposes of the work we're doing here today, it's important to put the numbers into context. Yes, we dealt with some asylum issues in the summer months and continue to face that, but the University of Calgary's school of public policy, based on analysis it has carried out looking at IRCC numbers, has come up with the following.
In 2017, Canada will have 36,000 people here seeking asylum, which is a sizable number to be sure, but in 2008 that number was 37,000. In the year 2000, that number was 38,000. In 2001, that number was 45,000, so I want both you and Mr. Grandi to know that Canada has dealt with these challenges before—weathered the storm, so to speak—and we will do so again.
More to the point with respect to the question of the Yazidis and what's taking place in northern Iraq, we heard this morning testimony that Canada is actively involved in situations on the ground in terms of transitional justice in particular, as well as other approaches to conflict resolution.
Mr. Grandi has made the point—and you have made the point in other committees where you've testified—that resettlement is actually a very small part of the approach we take when it comes to dealing with the displacement crisis the world is facing, which, as you correctly said, is the worst the world has seen since World War II.
Could you speak specifically about transitional justice, and the importance of that in helping societies repair? Canada is making it a focus in terms of our global efforts. I refer here to northern Iraq specifically, but it is the case in other areas as well. This is tremendously important in helping societies to heal, so that those who have been displaced can perhaps return one day.