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Canada foreign policy and past actions:

Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program


Refugees selected for resettlement to Canada have often fled their homes because of unimaginable
hardships and have, in many cases, been forced to live in refugee camps for many years. When they arrive
in Canada, they basically pick up the pieces of their lives and start over again.
As a member of the international community, Canada helps find solutions to prolonged and emerging
refugee situations and helps emerging democracies try to solve many of the problems that create refugee
populations. To do this, Canada works closely with the UNHCR.
The UNHCR, along with private sponsors identifies refugees for resettlement. Even after a refugee is
identified to Canada, it takes time to process the cases.
Under our legislation, all resettlement cases must be carefully screened to ensure that there are no issues
related to security, criminality or health. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) works
with its security partners such as the Canada Border Services Agency to complete this work as quickly as
possible.
Private sponsors across the country also help resettle refugees to Canada. Some are organized to do so on
an ongoing basis and have signed sponsorship agreements with the Government of Canada to help
support refugees from abroad when they resettle in Canada. These organizations are known as
Sponsorship Agreement Holders. They can sponsor refugees themselves or work with others in the
community to sponsor refugees. Other sponsors, known as Groups of Five and Community Sponsors, are
persons/groups in the community who are not involved on an ongoing basis but have come together to
sponsor refugee(s).
Canada has also introduced a third program to welcome refugees. Launched in 2013, the Blended Visa
Office-Referred (BVOR) Program matches refugees identified for resettlement by the UNHCR with
private sponsors in Canada.
In-Canada Asylum Program
Refugees come from around the world and many make their claims in Canada. The number of people
arriving varies from year to year. In 2014, more than 13,500 people came to Canada and made an asylum
claim.
Not everyone is eligible to seek asylum. For example, people convicted of serious criminal offences and
people who have had previous refugee claims denied by Canada are not eligible to make a claim.
Integration services
As such, the Government of Canada, working with an extensive network of partners and stakeholders,
supports the delivery a broad range of settlement services to support successful integration of all refugees.
Assistance for resettled refugees
Resettled refugees get initial assistance from either the federal government, the Province of Quebec, or
private sponsors (organizations or groups of people in Canada).
In keeping with Canadas proud humanitarian tradition, individuals and families selected under the
Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR) program are provided with immediate and essential services as
well as income support under the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) to support their initial
settlement in Canada.
Canada foreign policy and past actions:

This income support is typically provided for up to one year or until the client becomes self-sufficient,
whichever comes first. Canada provides RAP income support to eligible clients who cannot pay for their
own basic needs. Monthly income support levels for shelter, food and incidentals are guided by the
prevailing provincial or territorial basic social assistance rates in the clients province or territory of
residence.
RAP also provides immediate and essential services, generally delivered during the first four to six weeks
following a clients arrival in Canada, including:
1. port of entry and reception services;
2. temporary accommodation;
3. help to find permanent accommodation;
4. needs assessments;
5. information and orientation; and
6. links to other federal and provincial programs, as well as to other settlement services.
Private sponsors are responsible for providing financial and emotional support to privately sponsored
refugees for the duration of the sponsorship period, or until the refugee becomes financially independent
if this should occur during the sponsorship period. This includes help with housing, clothing and food.
Most sponsorships last for one year, but some refugees may be eligible for assistance from their sponsors
for up to three years.
Blended visa office-referred refugees receive six months of RAP income support, while private sponsors
provide up to six months of financial support and up to a year of social and emotional support.
IRCC also funds a settlement program that helps newcomers settle and adapt to life in Canada. IRCC
works with provinces and territories, service provider organizations, as well as a range of other partners
and stakeholders in delivering these services, which include:
needs assessment and referral services to increase newcomers awareness of their settlement needs and
link newcomers to IRCC-funded and community settlement services;
information and orientation services to better understand life in Canada and make informed decisions
about the settlement experience. This includes Canadian Orientation Abroad program, delivered pre-
arrival by the International Organization for Migration, which provides general information on settlement,
in person;
1. language training in English and French, so newcomers have the language skills to function in
Canada;
2. employment services that help newcomers search for, gain and retain employment in regulated
and non-regulated professions;
3. community connections services that enable newcomers to receive assistance in public
institutions, build networks with long-time Canadians and established immigrants with
opportunities to fully participate in Canada society; and
4. support services which help newcomers access settlement services, such as childcare,
transportation assistance, translation and interpretation services, provisions for persons with a
disability, as well as short-term/crisis counselling to deal with settlement issues.
Government of Canada: 2016-06-16

Past actions in Syria:


Canada foreign policy and past actions:

#WelcomeRefugees: Canada resettled Syrian refugees


38,713 Syria refugees (December 4, 2016)
Embassy of Canada to South Sudan (2015): Bilateral relations

Canada supports regional and international mediation effort towards a peaceful and sustainable resolution of conflict in
South Sudan. Security and stability in the region will be best attained through a stable, pluralistic democracy in South
Sudan.

The new Republic of South Sudan (RoSS) faces significant challenges. In addition to the task of building a new
country in a very under-developed region, South Sudan has to deal with fragmentation along political and ethnic lines,
armed conflict, widespread food insecurity and the displacement of over 1,5 million people, internally and as refugees.
The Government of South Sudan must proactively foster political reconciliation to ensure stability and continued
evolution towards a well-established multi-party democracy.

Following the South Sudanese independence, Canadian government representatives have worked closely with the
Government of South Sudan officials to support peace and development, including through humanitarian assistance,
early recovery programming, peacekeeping and peace building, and diplomatic efforts to lay the foundation for
sustainable development.

Canada has Canadian Armed Forces personnel deployed to the UN Mission in South Sudan, which was created on July
9, 2011, to consolidate peace and security and help establish conditions for development. Canada supports the
mission's protection of civilian mandate.

Embassy of Canada to South Sudan (2015): Development and humanitarian assistance

On April 1, 2014, in response to the current crisis in South Sudan, Canada announced $24.85 million in humanitarian
assistance and $51.5 million in development assistance. The humanitarian assistance will help meet emergency
food, shelter, medical care, safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, and protection needs .
Canadian development assistance will address short term food security and livelihood needs, which will help avert
potential famine this year and reduce pressure on emergency food assistance needs. In addition, Canadian
development assistance will address maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity in South Sudan by
delivering life-saving health services and supporting the delivery of basic health services, including to conflict-affected
populations. Helping mothers and their children survive and become healthier will remain a top priority for
Canadas development programming in South Sudan. Canada also has a strong interest in continuing to advance
democracy, and improve stability and accountability in South Sudan, and is exploring opportunities to support South
Sudanese citizens, including women, youth, civil society and church groups, to understand and meaningfully
participate in reconciliation processes.
Canada foreign policy and past actions:

Global Affairs Canada

South Sudan has an abundance of natural resources; however, years of civil war have left the country extremely
underdeveloped. The economy is based primarily on oil, which at times has provided as much as 98 percent of the
governments revenue. While South Sudan has an abundance of arable land, only 4.2 percent is currently cultivated.

The life expectancy is 55 years; while South Sudans maternal mortality is among the worst in the world at 2,054 per
100,000 births. The country lacks basic infrastructure with only 300 km of paved roads, and 80 percent of the population
lacks proper sanitation.

In December 2013, fighting broke out in Juba, which escalated into months of ongoing violence and hostilities,
particularly in the oil-producing regions of the country. The conflict has displaced more than one million people, as
civilians have fled within South Sudan and to neighbouring countries. Furthermore, it has resulted in grave human rights
violations and atrocities, including ethnic targeting, gender-based violence, as well as widespread looting and destruction.
With the planting season disrupted by conflict, the country is at risk of famine with as many as seven million people
expected to be food insecure in 2014.

Canada is following mediation efforts and promoting a sustainable resolution to the conflict through dialogue, as well as
respect of the cessation of hostilities agreements. Canada advocates for the Government of South Sudan and the opposition
to do their utmost to respect human rights and protect civilians, meet the humanitarian needs of conflict-affected
populations, and be accountable to citizens.

1. Thematic Focus
Canada's engagement in South Sudan focuses on helping set the conditions for long-term peace, stability, and prosperity.

Through a whole-of-government approach, Canada is working to support the people of South Sudan to:

Address humanitarian challenges

Reduce security threats

Enhance stability

Meet basic human needs

Promote reconciliation and democratization

Canada's international development efforts in South Sudan contribute to poverty reduction by improving the health of
mothers, newborns and children, increasing food security, and strengthening democratic governance.

Children and youth, including health and rights of women and children

Canada seeks to address maternal, newborn and child mortality and morbidity in South Sudan by delivering life-saving
health services and supporting the delivery of basic health services, including to conflict-affected populations. This
support also seeks to address sexual and gender-based violence, which has increased as a result of the conflict. Over the
Canada foreign policy and past actions:

longer-term, Canadas investments in infrastructure and human resources will help to develop a sustainable public health
care system.

Key anticipated results

Reduce the maternal mortality rate from 2,054 per 100,000 live births

Increase the number of women accessing basic maternal, newborn and child health interventions at primary and
secondary health facilities

Reduce the number of children dying from diseases such as malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia, which account for
45 percent of deaths for children under the age of five

Increase the number of trained health workers providing services in South Sudan, especially midwives

2. Food security
Canada seeks to prevent widespread food insecurity and reduce the risk of famine by boosting food production and
protecting livelihoods for vulnerable populations. Canada is supporting smallholder farmers to continue to produce food
throughout the crisis and helping them to access markets. Over the longer-term, and depending on the security situation,
agriculture is expected to play a key role in diversifying South Sudans economy and supporting economic growth.

Key anticipated results

Increase agricultural production for farming households through better access to training and farming inputs
including seeds and tools

Reduce the percentage of the population requiring emergency food assistance, which was as high as 33 percent
prior to the crisis

Construct new roads to link farming communities to markets and build capacity for government maintenance

Increase the number of people receiving livelihoods training and support

3. Governance
After supporting the 2010 elections in Sudan (including southern Sudan) and the 2011 referendum leading to South
Sudans independence, Canada has a strong interest in continuing to advance democracy, and improve stability and
accountability in South Sudan. Currently, Canada is working to promote more effective government oversight and the
accountable use of public resources. In response to the current crisis, Canada is exploring opportunities to support South
Sudanese citizens, including women, youth, civil society and church groups, to understand and meaningfully participate in
reconciliation processes.

Key anticipated results

Strengthen oversight of the government's use of public resources through capacity building of government
bodies responsible for transparency and accountability, such as the national government external audit office
Canada foreign policy and past actions:

4. Progress on Aid Effectiveness


Canada provides humanitarian assistance in South Sudan, through the United Nations, the Red Cross Movement, and non-
governmental organizations.

Achievements 2013-2014

Children and youth, including health and rights of women and children

Provided 3,526 women with emergency obstetric services and newborn care

Trained 525 health workers (including midwives and nurses) to provide children and mothers with the care they
need

Helped 1,152,376 children younger than age five to fight communicable diseases, including malaria, pneumonia
and diarrhea

Helped establish four national health training institutes for midwifery and nursing training over 300 students

Food security

15,717 households were employed through food for work activities, supporting 109,994 beneficiaries (of which
48.4% were women)

40 farmer groups and 16 dry season vegetable groups were formed and trained, contributing to a 25%-30%
increase in yield for most households and improving food security for 10,800 people

3,500 livelihood kits and 4,000 fuel stoves were distributed on an emergency basis in Upper Nile, one of the
states most affected by conflict

Humanitarian Assistance

With Canada's support, humanitarian partners could provide:

Provision of emergency food and nutrition assistance to over 3.3 million people (of which 1.7 million are
children) at risk of high food insecurity

Emergency vaccinations for 1 million children 6 to 15 years and provision of child friendly spaces

Provision of shelter kits and emergency medical care for over 300,000 conflict-affected people

Provision of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities for up to 250,000 conflict-affected people

Canadian Red Cross in South Sudan


Send surgical and medical team to provide emergency medical care to hundreds of wounded
Canada foreign policy and past actions:

to provide medical professionals to reinforce these lifesaving medical teams as well as financial
support
Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) program.
o to strengthen health systems
o reduce life-threatening diseases that are largely preventable.
o By harnessing the power of communities, ministries of health and Red Cross partners,
who implement practical, proven and cost effective interventions to save the lives of
women and children in Africa.
Farmer training in sustainable farming practices, water source rehabilitation, drought-resistant seeds,
crop diversification for enhanced nutrition, and participation in an annual state agricultural fair
five-year initiative to help strengthen the emergency response capacity of the South Sudan Red Cross

Oxfam Canada
to deliver emergency food, clean water and sanitation services.
distribute commodity vouchers, fuel efficient stoves and grinding mills
livelihoods work, supporting small-scale agriculture, microfinance and animal health
peacebuilding program to promote reconciliation and understanding between different
communities
supporting returnees, displaced people and local communities
education

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