- Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/SWEDEN Refugees express their relief as they arrive in Sweden
- Date: 11th September 2015
- Summary: GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN (SEPTEMBER 11, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FERRY THAT ARRIVED FROM GERMANY DOCKED IN HARBOUR FIRST REFUGEES TO COME OFF FERRY GREETED BY CHEERING LOCAL RESIDENTS VARIOUS OF SWEDISH RESIDENTS WAVING SIGNS READING: (English) "REFUGEES WELCOME" AND "SWEDEN WELCOMES YOU" REFUGEES EXITING FERRY TERMINAL, RESIDENTS CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRAQI MIGRANT, HUSHEIN SAYING: "One month on the way. I am one month on the way. I've just come to Sweden. I am feeling good. I'm good but I am tired." MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES COMING DOWN STAIRS FROM FERRY TERMINAL LOCAL RESIDENTS CLAPPING THEIR HANDS BEHIND SIGNS READING (English): "WELCOME" AND "COFFEE" WAVING MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WALKING DOWN STAIRS FROM FERRY TERMINAL (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) SWEDISH POLICE SPOKESPERSON, FREDRIK DALGREN, SAYING: "We are not here to catch anyone, we are here only to make sure that everything runs calmly and smoothly. Having a calm reception is the best way possible." GROUP OF NEWLY ARRIVED MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE FROM DAMASCUS, ASMAHAN, SAYING: "Everything difficult I feel it, I lived it. I lived it, everything. The trip was so difficult. So difficult." VARIOUS OF ASMAHAN'S CHILDREN EATING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE FROM DAMASCUS, ASMAHAN, SAYING: "I will stay here in Sweden. I love Sweden. We all love Sweden. We all love Swedish people. Just we need peace, just..." SYRIAN REFUGEE TAREQ AL-HUSAYN AND HIS TRAVELLING COMPANIONS TALKING TO LOCAL VOLUNTEER (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE FROM DAMASCUS, TAREQ AL-HUSAYN, SAYING: "I come here just because I need peace and (want to) continue my life. The situation in Syria is so dangerous. No life, no future." ASMAHAN'S DAUGHTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE FROM DAMASCUS, TAREQ AL-HUSAYN SAYING: "I am so so happy. I am lucky because I arrived here safe. Thanks to God, thanks to God. I am so lucky because I've arrived here. Yes, thank you so much, thank you to Sweden and to Germany, to all people who have helped us. Thank you so much." GROUP OF MIGRANTS IN FRONT OF FERRY TERMINAL BUILDING ASMAHAN'S DAUGHTER
- Embargoed: 26th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Sweden
- Country: Sweden
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA6DZEHJL68OWW31W8SW15BD2TT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans and Eritreans were among some 175 migrants and refugees who arrived in Sweden's second city Gothenburg on the morning ferry from Kiel in Germany on Friday (September 11).
Hushein from Iraq said he had been travelling for one month.
"One month on the way. I am one month on the way. I've just come to Sweden. I am feeling good. I'm good but I am tired," he said as he came off the ferry.
On arrival, the migrants were met by volunteers as well as representatives from the police, Red Cross and the Migration Agency.
Swedish Police spokesperson, Fredrik Dalgren said the authorities wanted the operation to run smoothly.
"We are not here to catch anyone, we are here only to make sure that everything runs calm and smooth. That there is a calm reception in the best way possible," he told Reuters.
Among those on the ferry were a group of 18 Syrian friends and relatives from Damascus who had travelled together.
They travelled via Turkey to reach Europe before heading west to Germany and finally making the crossing to Sweden.
Syrian refugee, Asmahan said her journey was difficult, but she was happy to be in Sweden.
"I will stay here in Sweden. I love Sweden. We all love Sweden. We all love Swedish people. Just we need peace," she said.
Asmahan made the journey with her brother-in-law, Tareq al-Husayn who felt he had no future in Syria.
"I come here just because I need peace and (want to) continue my life. The situation in Syria is so dangerous. No life, no future," he said.
Al-Husayn was also happy to arrive and expressed his thanks to Sweden, Germany and all those who had helped them as they travelled.
Some of the refugees were taken by bus to a nearby holding centre while others continued their journeys to find friends or relatives in other Swedish towns and Nordic countries.
By taking the ferry from Kiel to Gothenburg, the migrants bypassed Denmark which was the scene of chaos earlier this week when authorities closed ferry services and a motorway link with Germany, in an attempt to stop thousands crossing the border.
Denmark's reaction has been viewed as haphazard, as migrants were eventually allowed to move freely into the country after it became apparent the police had no power to stop them.
Sweden expects to receive 80,000 refugees this year and has more asylum seekers per capita than any other European nation thanks to a generous immigration policy allowing automatic permanent residency for Syrians. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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