The Canadian government has announced plans to increase the number of temporary resident visas (TRVs) available for Palestinians currently living in Gaza. In a statement from the Canadian Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, it was revealed that Canada will accept more TRV applications due to the heightened demand and ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. This follows an earlier initiative by Canada to address the crisis with special measures for extended family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Gaza.
Initially, the program allocated 1,000 temporary visas, but the figure has now been increased to 5,000 owing to the high demand. So far, 448 Gazans have received TRVs, although only 41 have managed to arrive in Canada. Minister Miller stressed the importance of Israel and Egypt in implementing these humanitarian measures and assisting in family reunification efforts. He noted that while current movement out of Gaza is restricted, the situation could change, and Canada aims to be prepared to provide assistance as needed. More details about Minister Miller’s statement can be found here.
These measures come in the context of Canada’s earlier pledge to aid Palestinians in Gaza. Last month, Canada introduced special measures that allow extended family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to apply for temporary residency, provided support from the Canadian relative for at least one year. Temporary residents are generally permitted to stay for up to three years, contingent on the validity of their passport and biometrics.
However, the recent increase in TRVs has not been without concerns, especially given that in March, Canada had announced a reduction in temporary immigration visas (TIV) due to resource shortages. As Canada adapts to the evolving situation in Gaza, the effectiveness of these initiatives will undoubtedly be closely monitored by both governmental and humanitarian organizations.
For more information, refer to the original report on JURIST here.