The lower mainland is now home to more than 200 Hindu and Sikh refugees from Afghanistan.
In 2015, many of these people had to flee Afghanistan due to religious persecution; they first sought refuge in India before being sponsored to come to Canada, says Tarjinder Bhullar, director of the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation.
In many cases, families come to Canada through private sponsorship. According to Bhullar, the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation is responsible for ensuring the refugees’ basic needs are met for the first year.
Getting refugees housing and employment, as well as getting children into school, is the next step.
Via @PrabhjotKahlon - +200 Sikh & Hindu refugees from Afghanistan arrived in Canada thanks to private sponsorships. Several have been welcomed by families in the Lower Mainland & across B.C. Many fled Afghanistan in 2015 due to violent religious persecution. More @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/Qo7iRDwXhp
— Tarnjit Kaur Parmar (@Tarnjitkparmar) March 22, 2022