Canada reunites Syrian family

OTTAWA: A Syrian refugee who lost seven children in a Halifax house fire has been reunited in Canada with siblings and more family members will join them Thursday, a lawmaker said. The family was among tens of thousands of Syrian refugees welcomed by Canada over the past four years.

Kawthar Barho, 30, and her family fled the northern Syrian city of Raqa, where Islamic State militants had established their de facto capital. They settled in the Atlantic port city of Halifax in 2017, but in February a fire ravaged their two-storey home.

Her children, aged four months to 15 years old, died in the blaze. Her husband Ebraheim remains in hospital, recovering from severe burns. Ottawa has fast-tracked travel permits as well as security and health screenings to bring over members of her extended family to provide support.

"One group of family members arrived in February, and remain by her side," said MP Andy Fillmore in a statement. "We can now share that one additional group of family members is set to arrive in Canada today." Through the refugee aid group, the Heart Society, Kawthar Barho thanked Canadian supporters "in a very dark time." The group said she continues to spend her time "in the hospital by her husband’s side supporting him on his long road to recovery."