2nd charter flight carrying those fleeing war in Ukraine lands in Montreal
Feelings ran excessive on the Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Worldwide Airport, the place a second constitution flight carrying folks like Olena Biruk touched down Sunday morning.
The 20-year-old was one among 306 Ukrainians that flew into Montreal from Poland simply earlier than 11 a.m. ET Sunday after being authorized for emergency journey to Canada.
“Yesterday, I do not sleep. I am shocked,” Biruk stated of touching down on Canadian soil.
The younger girl fled her residence within the war-ravaged Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in March, when bombs started dropping close to her home. She lived in Poland earlier than arriving in Montreal, and she’s going to quickly start a brand new chapter in Toronto.
She stated she’s decided to search out work there whereas serving to her nation and her household again residence.
“It is my first journey alone and so I am nervous, I am actually nervous,” she stated. “However now I really feel like I can begin [a] new life.”
Les personnes rassemblées à l’aéroport de Mtl applaudissent les nouveaux arrivants. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/rcmtl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#rcmtl</a> <a href=”https://t.co/H9zFv71KVj”>pic.twitter.com/H9zFv71KVj</a>
—@hassinhadi
Biruk’s flight was the second federally chartered airplane to reach within the nation over the previous seven days after a primary flight arrived on Monday in Winnipeg.
A 3rd flight, sure for RisePEI, is scheduled to land on June 2.
Newcomers had been met with open arms, as dozens of Montrealers held indicators and flags and clutched balloons, stuffed animals and flowers to offer to the households.
Whereas some folks on the airport had been sponsor households there to greet these they’d be internet hosting, others like Michel and Élyse St-Hilaire merely turned out to indicate their assist.
“To applaud them, to assist them, as a result of I discover it appalling what’s occurring and it touches us. I feel it touches everybody,” stated Michel.
The town of Montreal, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the Quebec Immigration Ministry and the Union des Municipalités du Québec have partnered to assist the Ukrainian settling within the metropolis.
Michael Shwec, president of the Quebec chapter of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, stated he was “very happy” with the nice and cozy welcome new arrivals acquired Sunday morning. He thanked the federal and provincial governments, in addition to the Metropolis of Montreal.
He additionally praised the assist that Quebecers have given to the Ukrainian neighborhood, as displayed by the numerous donations made to associations working to welcome refugees within the province.
“The Quebec inhabitants has been extraordinarily beneficiant,” he stated.
Hope and unhappiness
Dignitaries akin to International Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Jean Boulet, the provincial minister chargeable for immigration, labour and francization, had been on the airport Sunday morning to welcome the newcomers.
“It was very transferring as a result of what we’re seeing is the influence of the brutality of Vladimir Putin’s conflict,” stated Joly in an interview with Radio-Canada.
“Each individual arriving has skilled a trauma, however there’s additionally an excellent feeling of aid. This brings a lot hope, but in addition quite a lot of unhappiness.”
Joly stated Canada can do higher with its help, however shouldn’t be but transferring ahead with one other constitution flight.
For his half, Boulet stated Quebec will “spare no effort” for the combination of Ukrainian refugees.
“I met all of the households … it was a really touching expertise,” he stated.
Boulet stated he desires to welcome them “with humanity and dignity,” including 95 neighborhood organizations are unfold throughout the province to assist them “it doesn’t matter what their wants are.”
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has stated the three flights will deliver roughly 900 Ukrainians authorized for emergency journey into Canada.
The federal authorities has already welcomed 1000’s of Ukrainians since Russian forces first attacked in late February.
In keeping with federal authorities knowledge, Canada has acquired simply over 259,000 requests for momentary residency as of Could 25, with 120,668 of these functions authorized.
