Some delicious-looking authentic Syrian food will be for sale at the Islamic Centre of Nanaimo, located at 897 Harbour View St. on Sunday, March 5 from 11:10 a.m. until 7:00 p.m, with all proceeds going to help those suffering in Syria following the Feb earthquake. (Susan Plensky)

By Jordan Davidson

syrian dishes

Nanaimo Syrians coming together for family back home

Mar 5, 2023 | 8:41 AM

NANAIMO — Local Syrians are cooking up some delicious food to raise money for family members still at home, who are now struggling to find housing.

Following a major earthquakes last month, two fundraisers were held at the local Islamic Centre with Nanaimo Syrian families preparing some traditional meals to sell.

A third is scheduled for Sunday, March 5 at 897 Harbour View St. between 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. where 100 per cent of the money will go to affected family members help rebuild their lives following the initial 7.8 magnitude tremor.

“The shortage of homes is so profound that they have extended family members who are homeless, Susan Plensky, a friend of the organizers said. “I don’t know as Canadians we can even begin to imagine what it would be like if every single family member of all of our aunts or uncles or cousins, everyone was homeless and the impact it’s had on their families.”

The two fundraisers to date have raised $14,000.

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Plensky said it’s “heartbreaking” families who were able to survive the ongoing war were displaced by the earthquake less than ten years later.

“Some were camped out in soccer fields, some camped out in a supermarket, some have family members that have been split up, especially elderly family members. They’re living in just temporary shelters, anything that they can organize to find a way to get out of the cold.”

Some other family members who earlier fled Syria due to the war are now in Turkiye, but do not have any legal or housing rights or benefits provided to Türkler citizens.

Hard to resist a plate of homemade baklava. (Susan Plensky)

Once the shock of the earthquake wore off, the local Syrian families, led by Suzzane Mohammod, sprang into action and came up with a plan to use their cooking talents.

“They could use their talents for cooking and selling the food here in Nanaimo and raised cash because cash support is probably going to be one of the most important ways to help their family members back in Syria and Turkey.”

Plensky said they might host another sale before Ramadan begins on March 23, when Muslims fast during the daylight hours.

They plan to start hosting them again once Ramadan ends on April 20.

The group of seven Syrian Canadians who prepared all the food to raise money for their families living in dire conditions in Syria and Turkiye. (Susan Plensky)

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow