SEVEN Sikh refugee families that fled Afghanistan to India in 2015 arrived at Vancouver International Airport on Wednesday. They were sponsored through private applications that were spearheaded by the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation with support from the World Sikh Organization of Canada, community groups and individuals. The late Manmeet Bhullar, who was an Alberta MLA and a former minister, arranged for the evacuation of Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan’s Helmand province in early 2015 after they became the target of intolerance and attacks.

Some leaders of Ross Street Gurdwara of Vancouver’s Khalsa Diwan Society, including President Malkiat Singh Dhami were also present at the airport. The KDS sponsored one family, Dhami told the VOICE.

Tarjinder Kaur Bhullar, Manmeet Singh Bhullar’s sister, told The VOICE that these seven families were actually the group that Manmeet had originally committed to helping and are largely from the Helmand area. “In 2015, when he got involved with this project, he learned that this group was the one that was in the most amount of danger,” she added.

Some refugee families had also arrived in Canada in 2019 and by mid-April, a total of 220 individuals would have come here, she said.

All photos by SUKHWANT SINGH DHILLON / AM 600 Sher-E-Punjab Radio