Thursday, March 12, 2026
ADVT 
National

More than 5,000 Canadians have fled Middle East, Anand says demand for help dropping

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Mar, 2026 09:35 AM
  • More than 5,000 Canadians have fled Middle East, Anand says demand for help dropping

Global Affairs Canada says it has helped more than 5,000 Canadians leave the Middle East since the latest conflict began, and demand for evacuation support is now falling off.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is urging Canadians thinking of leaving the Middle East to do so and says the number of daily calls for help is now half what it was last week.

Her department says more than 4,300 Canadians, permanent residents and their relatives fleeing the region arrived in Canada between March 4 and March 8, through direct and indirect routes.

Another 871 people left the region for a safe third country such as Turkey, according to Global Affairs Canada.

As of Sunday, less than five per cent of the nearly 110,000 Canadians registered in the region had sought help to leave.

Global Affairs Canada says it is not aware of any Canadians killed or injured in the violence that started with American airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28.

Picture Courtesy: AP Photo/Vahid Salemi

MORE National ARTICLES

Eby touts mining, energy projects on India tour, dismisses Bishnoi gang report

Eby touts mining, energy projects on India tour, dismisses Bishnoi gang report
British Columbia Premier David Eby said Indian companies and the delegation he is leading in the subcontinent have been holding "extensive discussions" about accessing the province's mining and energy sectors.

Eby touts mining, energy projects on India tour, dismisses Bishnoi gang report

Immigrants more likely to cite human rights, diversity as 'Canadian values': survey

Immigrants more likely to cite human rights, diversity as 'Canadian values': survey
Immigrants are more likely than those born in Canada to identify things like respect for human rights and gender equality as "shared Canadian values," say survey results in briefing notes prepared for Immigration Minister Lena Diab.

Immigrants more likely to cite human rights, diversity as 'Canadian values': survey

Peter Milobar joins growing field in B.C. Conservative leadership race

Peter Milobar joins growing field in B.C. Conservative leadership race
Peter Milobar, the finance critic for the opposition B.C. Conservatives, is joining the race to lead the party.

Peter Milobar joins growing field in B.C. Conservative leadership race

Five things to know about Canada's new 'strategic partnership' with China

Five things to know about Canada's new 'strategic partnership' with China
Prime Minister Mark Carney secured what he called a "landmark" deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday, ending a three-day visit aimed at "recalibrating" strained relations between Canada and China.

Five things to know about Canada's new 'strategic partnership' with China

Vancouver festival attack suspect attends sentencing hearing for brother's killer

Vancouver festival attack suspect attends sentencing hearing for brother's killer
The suspect in last year's Lapu Lapu festival attack is attending a sentencing hearing in Vancouver for the killer of his brother, who died in 2024.

Vancouver festival attack suspect attends sentencing hearing for brother's killer

B.C's charity herring sale is back on. But hundreds of sea lions feasted first

B.C's charity herring sale is back on. But hundreds of sea lions feasted first
Victoria fisherman Bob Fraumeni is used to the challenges of the sea, having worked on fishing boats since he was 12 years old. 

B.C's charity herring sale is back on. But hundreds of sea lions feasted first