More kids than expected part of Syrian refugee resettlement challenge
OTTAWA — More than half of Ottawa’s newly arrived Syrians are under the age of 14, posing a particular challenge to refugee resettlement agencies — how do you keep the kids busy while trying to help their parents find a place to live?
One child recently proved the point — and in so doing, underlined the urgency of finding those homes as fast as possible.
Curious about the new world around their family at the hotel they currently call home, the youngster pulled the fire alarm, sending hundreds of people out into a cold winter night.
More children than expected are among many of the challenges facing the 36 cities currently accepting government-assisted Syrian refugees as efforts continue to settle 25,000 people in total by the end of February.