Edmonton-bound Syrian refugees stranded a second time

A family of Syrian refugees bound for Edmonton has been blocked from entering Canada for a second time in less than a week.

Four years after fleeing Syria's civil war, Iwan and Zamzam Dalaa, along with daughters Karima, 3, and 15-month-old Ayat, were granted refugee status by the Canadian government, but their future remains in limbo.

They spent the last of their money travelling to a Lebanon airport last Wednesday, but their flight was cancelled and travel documents were reportedly confiscated by security officials.

"They were penniless. We actually found out from an international newspaper what was going on. So we wired them some money," said Father Glenn McDonald, a member of a St. Joseph's College group sponsoring the family.

On Tuesday, another bureaucratic tangle at Beirut's airport prevented the Dalaa family from boarding its flight, and for now they all remain stranded in a Beirut hotel room.

"The family is crushed," said McDonald, who added they have kept in contact with the Dalaas with the help of a translator.

"The mother — they said she is just inconsolable."

McDonald suspects problems with the family's exit visa are to blame for the transfer issues, saying the federal government has offered to intervene.

"They have been very helpful . . . . It sounds like the problem is on the Canadian side, which is good for us, because we can find out what's wrong. We're quite confident it will work out. "

The family, McDonald said, will attempt to solve their travel issues during a meeting with UN officials on Tuesday, and could be rescheduled for travel to Edmonton by the end of the week.

The Dalaas were supposed to be the first of three Syrian families sponsored by St. Joseph's College groups to arrive in Edmonton.

"It's been a wonderful experience, even with these bumps, and I would encourage anyone to consider doing this," McDonald said.