Manitoba aid agencies bracing for new wave of refugees across U.S. border
WINNIPEG — Manitoba aid agencies warned Thursday they are becoming overwhelmed by a wave of refugee claimants coming across the U.S. border near the community of Emerson.
Some 169 people have crossed the border on foot in sub-zero temperatures this year — an unprecedented amount for the cold weather months, according to Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, one of 23 agencies that work with The United Way to help newcomers.
“Can you imagine what is going to happen to us when the weather improves?” said Abdi Ahmed, a co-ordinator with the group.
“Now we have (mostly) single people coming across. We will have families and we will have many people coming across when the weather improves.”