As violence continues to escalate in Aleppo, Syrians living in Canada are worried about family members who remain trapped in the city.

Thousands of civilians are still trying to flee the besieged Aleppo, which has seen a climax in bombings and attacks by government forces. The city was supposed to be evacuated last week, but there have been complications after attacks from both sides.

The Alkhattab family left the war-torn city in 2012 and arrived in Winnipeg two years ago as refugees.

Close relatives arrived in August, and 18 family members are now safe, but they say they're concerned about the ones left behind.

"They know now, there is no way to survive in Aleppo," said Walid Alkhattab, the family's eldest son. "There's no chance for you to live."

As the Alkhattab family waits to hear from trapped relatives, a family living in Vancouver has heard good news.

Betul Nebhen fled to Turkey in January, eventually bringing her two children to Coquitlam as part of the Canadian government's refugee sponsorship program.

"It was so sad, no electricity and no water," she said about her time living in Aleppo. "Every second moment bombing, and all the time smoke coming from the fire."

Nebhen, who was widowed when her children were babies, says she refused to send her kids to school in the city, worried that they would be killed in a bombing.

Her uncle and cousin had been trapped in Aleppo until earlier this week, escaping to Turkey.

"They wish to come here to me, because they can't now come back to Aleppo… I'm so worried about this," she said.

She admits she may not see her family members again, due to distance, but says she's been overwhelmed by the warm welcome she's experienced in Canada.

"I am so happy here," said Nebhen. "Here [my children] have a future, and if I stay in Aleppo or Turkey they don't have anything."

With reports from CTV Winnipeg's Beth Macdonnell and CTV Vancouver's Shannon Paterson