Canadian Family Faces Tough Decision Amid War Zone Crisis

A Canadian woman in Qatar is grappling with a painful decision as her family faces the turmoil of a war zone. Amy Nikiel has lived in Doha for two decades and now finds herself in an “impossible” situation: fleeing with her children while leaving behind her husband, Iyad Massoud, who does not hold Canadian citizenship. The couple needs urgent assistance from the Canadian government to secure a visa for Massoud to escape the escalating violence.

Despite numerous attempts to contact Global Affairs Canada, Nikiel reports that she has received inadequate support. An automated response from the government agency indicated that consular assistance primarily caters to Canadian citizens, with limited exceptions for permanent residents and eligible family members. Massoud does not qualify under these criteria, leaving the family in a precarious position.

“This is stressful as a family. We obviously need to stay together,” Nikiel stated. “The option of being told that we’re going to take you and your kids is unimaginable.” The couple has three sons, all under the age of 14, and Nikiel fears that other families in similar situations may fall through the cracks.

Saudi Arabia’s stringent visa policies for Palestinians further complicate matters for Nikiel and her family. She has provided Global Affairs with documentation of her husband’s prior visits to Canada in hopes of receiving guidance. “I know it’s complicated, but I’ve been trying to get answers from the government on how we can have an assisted departure as a family, and I keep getting the runaround,” she explained during a Zoom interview.

Global Affairs has been actively working to assist Canadians in the region. Following recent missile attacks on Qatar, the agency organized transportation for around 270 Canadians from Doha to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, over the weekend. Since the onset of conflict, 1,077 Canadians have requested help to depart from Qatar, according to the latest figures from the agency.

The situation has also escalated for another Canadian couple currently in Qatar. Mahmud Ahmed and Syeda Banu, who were visiting Doha during a stopover, experienced a terrifying moment when Qatari defense forces shot down Iranian missiles overhead. Ahmed, a heart patient, and his wife, who has limited mobility, found it challenging to navigate the chaos. He has been trying to engage with Canadian Embassy officials for six days but has only received automated replies.

With Doha’s airport shut down, Ahmed is desperately seeking ground transportation to Muscat, the capital of Oman, which is over 1,000 kilometers away. “It’s more than a 12-hour journey by road. Still, I’m open to that, because Muscat is at least a little bit outside of the war zone right now,” he said.

In response to the ongoing crisis, Foreign Minister Anita Anand stated on social media that the government is “exploring all efforts to ensure that Canadians who wish to leave are able to do so safely, and swiftly.” Since March 4, Global Affairs has made available 894 seats on flights and buses for Canadians seeking to evacuate. Yet, only 357 Canadians have utilized these options, amounting to less than 40 percent of the capacity secured.

Anand has indicated that any unused passenger seats will be offered to allied nations. The urgency of the situation is underscored by the fact that approximately 110,000 Canadians are registered in the Middle East, with over 5,267 individuals requesting assistance to depart from the ongoing conflict.

As the situation evolves, families like Nikiel’s and Ahmed’s are left to navigate the complexities of bureaucratic processes while facing the immediate threat of violence. The emotional toll of separation and uncertainty weighs heavily as they seek a path to safety together.