Editorial: Giving what little they have

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Albertans have been reading and watching with disbelief the incredible devastation wrought by wildfires in Fort McMurray. But while all of us are viewing the destruction and mass evacuations with sympathy, most have no real understanding of their plight. Fortunately, few of us have lived through such an ordeal.

But there is one group who can relate to losing homes and all their worldly possessions. Syrian refugees well understand what those in Fort McMurray are going through. 

Remarkably, these same people who landed in our province mere months ago are stepping up to aid the wildfire victims, which in a horrible twist of fate, includes six recently resettled Syrian families.

“It’s not easy to lose everything. We can understand them more than anyone in Canada. We were in the same situation,” said Rita Khanchet, who now lives in Calgary.

“Me and my family wanted to do something for these people. Canadian society helped us when we came to Canada.”

Khanchet posted an appeal in Arabic on a private Facebook page the newcomers use. Another Syrian refugee translated the message and posted it to a broader audience on the Syrian Refugee Support Group webpage. Within hours, offers of help poured in.

Without knowing how long it will be before Fort McMurray evacuees will be able to return home, and if they have a home to return to, the refugees decided to collect $5 donations from community members to buy diapers and hygiene supplies.

These are men and women, families, who escaped their homeland, in search of a safe future. They needed donations of their own to start a new life here. It’s almost inconceivable that those with so little are willing to give it up to those with now even less.

“It’s amazing. You have to understand how little these guys have,” said Saima Jamal, a co-founder of the Syrian Refugee Support Group. “But they understand the idea of an entire city losing their home. That’s something they can easily relate to.”

Their selfless generosity has spurred national and international interest with local media, CNN and BuzzFeed reporting on it. The story, being shared across social media, is a glimmer of light in an otherwise grim tale.

For those Canadians who opposed Canada’s plan to accept Syrian refugees in the first place, they may want to rethink their position. 

Because when disaster strikes, Canadians step up and do what needs to be done. We take care of our own. And right now, some of our newest citizens are shining examples of that spirit.