Refugees from Ukraine will arrive in N.L. within days. Here's where preparations stand
CBC
Newfoundland and Labrador volunteers are getting ready for the first plane of refugees to arrive May 9 from war-torn Ukraine, and are making sure that the necessities of life, toiletries and food will be on hand.
"All that to make sure they're comfortable and safe and secure when they arrive in the province," said Association of New Canadians executive director Megan Morris.
"It's a really intensive planning process to prepare for next week."
Immigration Minister Gerry Byrne says there is capacity for 175 seats on Monday's flight, although the final number of confirmed passengers is still unknown.
The province has a team of four employees in Poland helping refugees with support and the documentation required to move them to Newfoundland and Labrador. Officials hope Monday's fight will be the first of many.
"We're now working with the federal government that is also considering a charter in the coming weeks," said Byrne.
At least 1.5 million people fled Ukraine soon after Russia invaded the country in February, triggering an international humanitarian response.
The Association for New Canadians is building on its past experience to meet the current crisis.
"We're hoping to stand up an operation similar to what we did when the Afghans arrived in St. John's," said Morris, referring to refugees who arrived in St. John's last October, soon after the Taliban took control of Aghanistan.
"We're meeting with provincial partners, the various federal partners that should be involved."
In addition to providing necessities and information, the ANC is looking into housing for the refugees, something Morris said is going slower than usual due to high demand.
"If we can't find housing, we try to get a little more innovative. We've also worked with some very generous landlords who've come forward and said they want to help. There's lots of goodwill in the community and our team is really used to coming up with housing and making sure they find accommodation."
Meanwhile, an organization that originally formed to help source masks and protective gear during the COVID-19 pandemic, TaskforceNL, is pivoting toward helping the refugees connect with employers once they have arrived.
The group is working with the Department of Immigration and Multiculturalism to match skilled refugees with employment opportunities. Executive director Constanza Safatle said there is already a need in the province for workers, and that this serves both purposes.