At Toronto's Pearson airport on Saturday, emotional reunions unfolded as families greeted Canadian travelers returning from the Middle East. Many passengers, having fled escalating violence amid a conflict involving Iran, expressed profound relief at being back in Canada, intertwined with frustration over the Canadian government's handling of evacuations from the region.
Among the travelers was Camille Brown, who arrived in Toronto with her husband and three young children. She described the traumatic experiences her family endured during the previous week, highlighting the terrifying sounds of missiles and drones in the United Arab Emirates aimed at U.S. military targets. Living near a frequently targeted airbase intensified their fear, with Brown recalling, "It was just really traumatizing. The house was shaking. (It was) the scariest thing I’ve ever been through."
Amid heightening chaos, Brown and her family had to adapt quickly, moving to sleep downstairs away from windows to remain safe. Despite Government of Canada advisory urging citizens to secure their own evacuation, Brown's family managed to book their own flight with Emirates after her mother in Canada successfully reached the airline. "The advice from the Canadian government was to find your own commercial way out. But how is that possible if we can't even book anything?" she lamented.
Earlier this week, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand advised Canadians still in the Middle East to prepare individual departure plans and announced plans for hundreds of seats on flights to assist those wishing to leave. Brown has called for the government to enhance its efforts, stating, "There’s still a lot of Canadians there. They need to ramp it up." She believes that more should be done to help Canadians in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to ensure their safe exit.
Barb McBean, who arrived in Toronto with her husband Bob, shared similar sentiments. After experiencing daily explosions from intercepted missiles while staying in a hotel on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, they expressed gratitude for returning home. Barb noted how the situation in Dubai felt reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic, with residents instructed to stay indoors and an eerie silence blanketing the city. "It was scary for everybody," she emphasized, referring to the constant alerts to seek shelter.
Bob McBean, who has worked in the oil and gas industry in Dubai for 30 years, criticized the U.S. military action against Iran, arguing that the attacks lacked legality and wasn't the appropriate response. "They didn’t even go through their own Congress, forget the UN," he stated. He expressed relief that Canada had not engaged militarily in the conflict, reflecting a sense of cautious detachment from the unfolding situation.
Post arrival, the McBeans are set to continue their trip to Kelowna. Meanwhile, Camille Brown is focusing on her children’s emotional well-being after the harrowing week they experienced. She noted the difficulty of explaining the chaotic situation to her children, ages eight, six, and three, while asking them to stay indoors for safety. "We’ll definitely have to get some type of counseling after this," she remarked.
Global Affairs Canada has confirmed that, as of now, there are no reports of Canadians being harmed or killed due to the ongoing hostilities in the region. However, with rising tensions, hundreds more Canadians are anticipated to evacuate as the government has arranged further flights in the coming days. The efforts underscore the urgency of addressing the safety of citizens amidst the escalating conflict.
