Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada Approves Refugee Claim Of Man Who Fled Somalia After Death Threat

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Sep, 2015 12:50 PM
    WINNIPEG — A Somali man who swam across the Red River thinking it was the border between the United States and Canada has had his refugee claim accepted.
     
    The Immigration and Refugee Board told 32-year-old Yahya Samatar at a hearing in Winnipeg today that his claim was accepted.
     
    Samatar can now apply to be a permanent resident, a process that could take more than a year.
     
    At that time, he will be able to bring his wife and four children to Canada.
     
    Samatar was a human rights worker in Somalia, was kidnapped and fled after his life was threatened by terrorist group Al Shabab.
     
    It took him a year to reach Canada — first he flew from Somalia to Brazil, then hiked through the jungle to Colombia, then up through Central America and to the United States, where he was detained, then headed north.
     
    He found himself on the shore of the Red River.
     
    Although he wasn't exactly sure where he was, he believed crossing the river would land him on Canadian soil so he jumped in and swam across through the fast and frigid waters, wondering if he would encounter crocodiles as he would in rivers at home.
     
    Emerging on the other side, Samatar walked across several farms before meeting a Good Samaritan who gave him clothes and linked him with the Canadian Border Services Agency.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Dalhousie University Student Charged With Murder Back In Court Next Month

    Dalhousie University Student Charged With Murder Back In Court Next Month
    The case of a 22-year-old man charged in the death of a fellow student at Dalhousie University in Halifax will return to court next month.

    Dalhousie University Student Charged With Murder Back In Court Next Month

    Harper Enters French Debate With Political Allies But Bloc Backing On Niqab

    Harper Enters French Debate With Political Allies But Bloc Backing On Niqab
    OTTAWA — Stephen Harper doesn't have a reputation as a gambler, but his 2015 federal election call is shaping up as an all-or-nothing bet on another Conservative majority.

    Harper Enters French Debate With Political Allies But Bloc Backing On Niqab

    Merritt, B.C., Demonstrators Fight Biosolids, Arguing Sewage Sludge Unsafe

    First Nations and members of the group Friends of the Nicola Valley are demonstrating outside the convention, hoping to convince delegates that dumping the biosolid material is unsafe.

    Merritt, B.C., Demonstrators Fight Biosolids, Arguing Sewage Sludge Unsafe

    La Presse Laying Off 158 Workers As It Ends Weekday Printed Edition

    La Presse Laying Off 158 Workers As It Ends Weekday Printed Edition
    Montreal La Presse is laying off 158 employees as it prepares to eliminate its weekday printed newspaper in January.

    La Presse Laying Off 158 Workers As It Ends Weekday Printed Edition

    U.S. court to rule on settlement fund for victims of Lac-Megantic rail disaster

    U.S. court to rule on settlement fund for victims of Lac-Megantic rail disaster
     A bankruptcy judge in Maine is set to rule on a $338 million US settlement fund for victims of the 2013 train derailment in Lac-Megantic, Que., that claimed 47 lives.

    U.S. court to rule on settlement fund for victims of Lac-Megantic rail disaster

    Akal Takht Pardons Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

    Akal Takht Pardons Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh
    The Akal Takht -- the highest temporal seat of the Sikh religion -- on Thursday said it has pardoned Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh following a written apology from him.

    Akal Takht Pardons Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh