Syrian wants more programs to help refugees come to Canada

Musa Talluzisays he feels helpless watching footage of Syrian refugees in "death boats"trying to get to safety.

Talluziarrived in Winnipeg in August through a student sponsorship with the University of Winnipeg.

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His family fled Syria in 2012 after shelling began and his 12-year-old brother died while playing in the street.

"My little brother was killed in a mortar bomb exploding in our street five months before we fled Syria," Talluzi said.

"And I was injured only one month before we fled as well, when shelling became so intensive in our region, we decided to flee Syria to Lebanon."

Talluzi was studying medicine at Damascus University when rebels moved into his neighbourhood.

He still has splinters in his back after a mortar exploded in front of the ambulance he was working in as a paramedic.

Talluzi's family spent three years in a Lebanese refugee camp before he came to Canada, he said. He travelled here alone most of his family is still in Lebanon.

"I applied for a student refugee program with World University Serviceof Canada,and I was accepted and I am here now, and they have sponsored me to come to Canada," Talluzi said.

Sponsors picked him up from the airport, took him to his new home and have helped him settle into the university and the community.

He finds it difficult to watch the footage of Syrians in boats trying to get to safety.

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"I feel defeated because there is nothing I can do ...and those people died trying to get safety and the good life in Europe," Talluzi said.

"I just wish [there were]some processes, some programs to apply for immigration rather than going by deathboats or dying in the sea."

He hopes images of refugees will moveCanadians to support programs to help bring more people to Canada.

Talluzihas abandoned studying medicine in Canada;instead, he is studying computer science.

"I change that because studying medicine is a long journey. You need eight to 10 years until we finish," Talluzi said.

"And I want to finish my studies as soon as possible and start working to send money back for my family, because they are refugees in Lebanon right now and they need the help."