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AMMAN – Sitting with his family members in an interview room inside the UNHCR offices in Amman, Syrian refugee Abdul Razzaq Omar was not as excited as expected when he was told that he might be moved to Canada by the end of this year.
Going to Canada, a dream of thousands of people like him, was an option he sought for totally pragmatic reasons, and emotional ones: a better future for his family.
Omar, who has one child, said he lives comfortably in Jordan, which he described as his second home.
"I am fairly happy in Jordan because it is the closest to my homeland, but it seems it is our destiny to move to Canada. To me, it is also an obligation as I am responsible for a family of seven, including my parents, he told The Jordan Times Friday.
Omar was among many refugees who have been contacted by the UNHCR in Amman to be interviewed for a potential opportunity for departure to Canada.
Around 2,000 compatriots of Omar’s flocked to the UNHCR’s offices on Friday, according to Mohammad Hawari, a senior mass information and communication associate at the agency, with all pursuing the same dream, option or destiny.
Helene Daubelcour, senior external relations officer at the UN refugee agency, said the Friday interviews were part of a Canadian humanitarian programme of transfer.
"We will look into their cases and see if they meet all the criteria that have been established," she told The Jordan Times in an interview.
Daubelcour said UNHCR staff checks and verifies Syrians' documentation to make sure that all is in place.
If approved, the next step is a medical checkup and other procedures, the relief officer said.
A major selection criterion, she explained, is the applicant’s personal, social and economic vulnerability, including poor health conditions of the refugee.
"As you know, 86 per cent of refugees who live in urban areas in Jordan live under the national poverty line but we also take refugees from the camps because vulnerability is everywhere," she added.
Daubelcour said they started this process on November 20 as a pilot project and then they went in full speed one week later.
“We have been working on this specific programme only during weekends or after working hours because we do not want to disturb all (our other activities) and maybe we will finish by the end of next week (ending Thursday),” she added.
Daubelcour said they have selected 8,800 people from those interviewed so far.
Yafa Arman, one of the UNHCR staff who was involved in the interview process, said that when applicants first arrive, they undergo the IRIS scanning and are asked a number of questions including if the person wants to leave for Canada or not and if he is ready to move by the end of this year.
“Many of the Syrians I interviewed said they wanted to think first and required further details about Canada and how their situation would be — whether they would be able to live there or not,” she told The Jordan Times.
Syrian refugees interviewed by The Jordan Times echoed Omar’s reasons for seizing this opportunity: a better future.
Um Mohammad, who has been in Jordan for more than three years, said she received a message from the UNHCR to be interviewed and decided to come to give it a try.
“I have three children including one son and I want to ensure a good education for him,” she added.
Kareem, from the city of Homs, said the living conditions in Jordan are good but his main concern is to work.
“I used to have a sweets factory and I lost it, so I want to open my own business in Canada. Here I can hardly make ends meet, especially due to high rents,” he said as he was holding his baby, waiting for his turn to be interviewed.
“I have no concerns about living Western community; besides, there is a Muslim community there and I can easily adapt to life in Canada,” he explained.
“Would you return to your country if violence comes to an end?” Most of respondents to this question seemed as not expecting it.
Ahmad Abdullah Al Ahmad, from Daraa, paused with a deep look in his eyes before saying that he is not thinking about returning to Syria ever after he lost his house and business in the civil war.
Um Mohammad also believes there’s nothing to go back to.
But for Omar, Canada or no Canada, Jordan provides enough home so far, and he hopes for better days.