"It was also informative to read about the additional challenges faced by people with disabilities in Gaza. Those who need wheelchairs because of pre-existing disabilities, or ailments from recent surgeries or loss of limbs, cannot be displaced easily and are, thus, especially vulnerable to Israel’s military attacks."
January 10, 2024
To:
Bill Kaufmann, Reporter, Calgary Herald
Lorne Motley, Editor-In-Chief, Calgary Herald
Dear Mr. Kaufmann,
I am writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to thank you for your article titled “’Very Stressful’: Calgarians strive against odds in getting loved ones out of shattered Gaza,” published on January 9 by the Calgary Herald.
As the Canadian government’s federal temporary residence program has finally opened its applications, it has been heartbreaking to read about the Palestinian-Canadians fighting for the limited spots to bring family members from Gaza to Canada. Often, Canadian articles regarding Israel’s war on Gaza often make the conflict feel distant and obscure. By including a range of Palestinian-Canadian perspectives, however, your article conveys the extent to which this war has taken a tragic toll on families in Gaza and Canada alike. In addition to the incessant dread of losing relatives in Gaza, it was troubling to read about the financial stress faced by Palestinian-Canadians who are completing immigration applications for their family members. So much so that some have had to launch GoFundMe pages to pay for the costs associated with transit to and settlement in Canada, highlighting Canada’s continuously weak attempts at helping Palestinian-Canadian families amid this humanitarian crisis.
It was also informative to read about the additional challenges faced by people with disabilities in Gaza. Those who need wheelchairs because of pre-existing disabilities, or ailments from recent surgeries or loss of limbs, cannot be displaced easily and are, thus, especially vulnerable to Israel’s military attacks. As a result, people with disabilities are significantly disadvantaged as it pertains to leaving Gaza. Reporting on these marginalized perspectives is incredibly helpful for readers and helps demonstrate the need for an immediate ceasefire.
Thank you, Bill Kaufmann, for your inclusion of Palestinian voices and perspectives. Please continue to do so.
Sincerely,
Rose Mardikian,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East