'He needs their love': Boy, 10, escaped Afghanistan but still separated from parents months later

The last time youngHadisAfghanfarsaw his parents, they were wading through thecrowds at Kabul International Airport last August, desperately trying not to get trampled in their questtoflee Afghanistanas the Taliban took over.

Hadis, who is now 10, his parents, two young brothers, grandparentsand auntwere among thousandstrying to board flights. His step-grandfather, Mohad Asef Faqiri, says theyspent two nights sitting onfloors covered in litter and urine with the sound of gunfire all around them.

The boy's mother, who was ninemonths pregnant, finally had to leave the airport with her husband and other children, fearing for their safety. Hadis and the othersmade it out and he now livesin Torontowith his grandparents.

"I love my parents so much, I want them to be here," Hadistold CBC News.

Hadis's parents have been working with immigration consultantKimia Moshiri since October to getthe rest of the familyto Canada. They were able to cross the border into Pakistan in Januarybut since then, they'vebeen waiting fortemporary resident visas fromImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada(IRCC).

WATCH | Video shows chaos atKabul airport in August as thousands attempted to flee:

Afghans chase U.S. air force plane in desperate attempt to escape country

3 years ago

Duration 0:38

Thousands of people are trying to flee Afghanistan as the Taliban strengthens its grip on the country. Some people chased a U.S. air force plane down the tarmac, while others tried to force their way onto planes at the Kabul airport.

Moshirisays they've already completed the mandatorypaperwork, and gotten mandatory fingerprint ID and retinal scans but they weretold by IRCC that their application hadbeen placed on hold.

"No matter how many times we follow up with IRCC or call, we're just getting automated replies," she said.

"There's really no one to hold accountable for this case."

11,500 Afghan refugees now in Canada

Hadis'sloved ones aren't the only refugeesstuck in limbo.One of IRCC's policiessince the Taliban took over was toprioritize those visa applications for Afghans that have immediate family in Canada.But since August of last year, just 11,500Afghans have arrived in Canadafar fewer than the 40,300 the federal government made a commitment to resettle.

Moshirisays she was told by IRCC that the application would be fast-tracked, considering Hadis is a minor. That hasn't happened.

"It usually takes a few months," she said. "I'm not sure what else we can do."

In an email statement, IRCCwouldn't give any specifics aboutHadis's family, but said its commitment to providing protection to at least 40,300Afghans "has not wavered."

"The timelines for arrival are based on the individual's or families' current location and whether we can process their applications accordingly," the statement reads.

"If we can move people quickly, we will, while making sure that as people arrive in Canada, they have access to a safe place and that they're landing in communities that have the capacity to help them integrate successfully."

Moshirisays they have even reached out toMPP Doly Begum and MP Bill Blair inthe riding ofScarborough Southwest, where Hadis and his grandparents live. Shesays they were promised letters of support from both but haven't yet received any.

In a statement to CBC Toronto,Begum's office said it is"undertaking the necessary due diligence" before sending a letter to thefamily's legal representative.

"Our caseworker is making sure that they receive the letter as soon as possible," saidMayeesha Chowdhury, aspokesperson for Begum.

Meanwhile,Blair's office says it is"working with the family's representatives on next steps in their case."

"This is an extremely difficult time for the family and we are committed to doing all that we can to support them," reads an email statement from his office.

'He's feeling very lonely'

Since their escape,Hadishas enrolled in school and made friends,Faqiri says, but he constantly misses hisparents.

In the meantime, Faqiriis worried that the scarce funds Hadis's parents escaped with will run out, especially nowthat they have an eight-month-old baby to feed.

"They have nothing to eat over there," he said.

Faqiri's worries also grow for Hadis, who has yet to meet his babybrother.

"He's feeling very lonely. He's kind of stressed and depressed he has a lot of concern about the family," Faqiri said.

"He needs his parents;he needs their love."