Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia and Chris Friesen

Syrian Army: Through translator Ayman Kanaan, Al Lwisi says he doesn't know if his brother was taken by the Syrian Army or rebels involved in the country civil war. "The war escalated and the fighting between the two sides had gotten worse and worse," Kanaan said. "They finally decided that they had to leave for safety." Life in a refugee camp The family spent the next three years in Lebanon in a refugee camp, according to CBC. Syrians could not work and were forced to renew residency status, which cost the family the equivalent of $1,500 US every six months, according to Al Lwisi. In the autumn of 2012, Al Lwisi and his family fled Damascus, Syria after his brother disappeared. Al Lwisi oldest son Yazan, 7, was not allowed to attend elementary school in Lebanon. "It was a big disaster. In June 2014, officials with the United Nations told the family they could choose from three countries; the United States, Australia, and Canada. Extremely difficult," he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.