Tuesday, March 17, 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

Virtual citizenship ceremonies should end, says Conservative critic

Virtual citizenship ceremonies should end, says Conservative critic
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel-Garner said Wednesday it's time for the federal government to end virtual citizenship ceremonies.

Virtual citizenship ceremonies should end, says Conservative critic

Dr. Roberta Bondar, 1st Canadian woman in space, turns 80

Dr. Roberta Bondar, 1st Canadian woman in space, turns 80
Dr. Roberta Bondar was the first Canadian woman and the first neurologist to travel to space. As she celebrates her 80th birthday on Thursday, the Sault-Ste-Marie-born Bondar, reflects on the future of space exploration, her life and what's to come.

Dr. Roberta Bondar, 1st Canadian woman in space, turns 80

Eight-year-old girl's fatal fall from Vancouver highrise balcony ruled an accident

Eight-year-old girl's fatal fall from Vancouver highrise balcony ruled an accident
The death of an eight-year-old girl who fell from a Vancouver highrise building last month has been ruled an accident.

Eight-year-old girl's fatal fall from Vancouver highrise balcony ruled an accident

Carney to meet Trump, Sheinbaum in Washington at FIFA event Friday

Carney to meet Trump, Sheinbaum in Washington at FIFA event Friday
Prime Minister Mark Carney is planning to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at a FIFA World Cup event Friday in Washington, D.C.

Carney to meet Trump, Sheinbaum in Washington at FIFA event Friday

Confidence bill on Mental Health Act passes through B.C. legislature

Confidence bill on Mental Health Act passes through B.C. legislature
The B.C. New Democrat government has survived a confidence vote over its changes to the Mental Health Act that reduce the legal exposure of health care workers who deliver involuntary care to patients.

Confidence bill on Mental Health Act passes through B.C. legislature

Carney vows to meet Coastal First Nations after chiefs vote against pipeline to B.C.

Carney vows to meet Coastal First Nations after chiefs vote against pipeline to B.C.
Prime Minister Mark Carney promised to meet with Coastal First Nations after chiefs voted unanimously Tuesday to press the government to uphold the oil tanker ban off the northern British Columbia coast and withdraw an agreement signed with Alberta last week that clears a path for a new oil pipeline.

Carney vows to meet Coastal First Nations after chiefs vote against pipeline to B.C.