Drowned Syrian boy’s aunt says family will settle in Canada

In this Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015 file photo, Tima Kurdi is overcome with emotion as she looks at photos of her late nephews Alan and Galib Kurdi, at her home in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. The body of 3-year-old Syrian, Alan, was found on a Turkish beach after the small rubber boat he, his 5-year old brother Galib and their mother, Rehan, were in capsized during a voyage from Turkey to Greece. The family said the spelling of the boys’ names had been changed by Turkish authorities to “Aylan” and “Galip,” but are actually spelled as “Alan” and “Galib.” Canada has long prided itself for opening its doors wider than any nation to asylum seekers, but the number it welcomes has waned since the Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper took power almost 10 years ago. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP

TORONTO — The aunt of a Syrian boy whose lifeless body was photographed on a Turkish beach, sparking worldwide outrage at the refugee crisis, said she hopes her family members will be in Canada by Christmas.

Tima Kurdi said Friday that Canada has approved her application to bring her brother Mohammed and his family to Canada, but that security checks are still underway.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada spokesman Remi Lariviere would only confirm that the department has communicated with the Kurdi family.

“We can confirm that the processing of their application is proceeding well,” said Lariviere.

Mohammed Kurdi is the uncle of 3-year-old Alan Kurdi, who drowned, along with his 5-year-old brother and their mother, while crossing the treacherous waters from Turkey to Greece. The family was attempting to reach the Greek island of Kos.

READ: Pictures of drowned Syrian boy shock world as refugee crisis grows | Father of drowned Syrian boys: Overloaded boat flipped

Alan Kurdi’s father, Abdullah, was one of the few who survived their overloaded boat ride. A photo of Alan Kurdi’s washed up body in early September drew international momentum to help Syrian refugees.

Tima Kurdi’s original application to bring Mohammed and his family to Canada was rejected. She says the rejection led her other brother — Alan’s father, Abdullah — to lose hope he would be allowed into Canada, prompting him to make the dangerous journey.

Canada’s Department of Citizenship and Immigration said at the time there was no record of an application received for Abdullah Kurdi and his family, but that a bid for Mohammad Kurdi had been returned as incomplete.

Tima Kurdi said Abdullah is finding solace in helping refugee children in northern Iraq and no longer interested in coming to Canada.

Earlier this week, recently elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that his government will resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees by the end of the year and another 15,000 by the end of February.