- Title: More than two hundred Afghan refugees arrive in Spain
- Date: 24th August 2021
- Summary: TORREJON DE ARDOZ, SPAIN (AUGUST 24, 2021) (REUTERS) AIRCRAFT TRANSPORTING AFGHAN REFUGEES LANDING IN TORREJON AIRBASE VARIOUS OF PLANE TAXING SPANISH SOLDIER AND PLANE TAXING IN THE BACKGROUND PILOT IN THE CABIN VARIOUS OF AIRPLANE LADDER TRUCK APPROACHING PLANE SPANISH SOLDIERS WAITING FOR REFUGEES ON THE TARMAC VARIOUS OF REFUGEES, INCLUDING CHILDREN, DISEMBARKING PLANE WOMAN HOLDING BABY REFUGEES DISEMBARKING PLANE SPANISH INTERIOR MINISTER FERNANDO GRANDE-MARLASKA GREETING REFUGEES WOMAN MEASURING REFUGEES' BODY TEMPERATURE GRANDE-MARLASKA GREETING REFUGEES REFUGEES AT AIRBASE GRANDE-MARLASKA ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH INTERIOR MINISTER, FERNANDO GRANDE-MARLASKA, SAYING: "We will take here as many people as we can, people in danger, until the very last moment that it is possible. We will put all our efforts in coordination with the European Union and the rest of partners, like the United States of America." GRANDE-MARLASKA AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH INTERIOR MINISTER, FERNANDO GRANDE-MARLASKA, SAYING: "It is an American flight carrying U.S. Army contractors and its destination is an American base in order to provide the necessary protection like we temporarily did here." UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AIRCRAFT ON TARMAC GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF AIRCRAFT LIFTING CARGO RAMP AIRCRAFT WITH THE LETTERS ILLINOIS AIR GUARD PRINTED ON THE SIDE MAN SALUTING AND GETTING INTO THE AIRCRAFT AIRCRAFT MOVING SPOILERS USA FLAG PRINTED ON THE AIRCRAFT TAIL USA AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF
- Embargoed: 7th September 2021 20:12
- Keywords: Afghan refugees Afghanistan Spanish hub USA aircraft
- Location: TORREJON DE ARDOZ, SPAIN
- City: TORREJON DE ARDOZ, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Europe,Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001ERN437R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A plane carrying 290 Afghan refugees and their families arrived on Tuesday (August 24) at a Spain-based European Union hub.
The military base is in Torrejon de Ardoz, outside Madrid.
The Madrid base is being used to host Afghan refugees who worked with the European Union and their families, who will then move to other EU countries.
Spanish interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that 613 Afghans have requested asylum in Spain and more than 1.100 refugees have landed in Spain since last week.
"We will take here as many people as we can, people in danger, until the very last moment that it is possible. We will put all our efforts in coordination with the European Union and the rest of partners, like the United States of America," the minister said.
A USA military aircraft was seen taking off from Torrejon and Grande-Marlaska confirmed the plane was heading to another U.S. base.
"It is an American flight carrying U.S. Army contractors and its destination is an American base in order to provide the necessary protection like we temporarily did here," he said.
Two more planes are scheduled to land in Torrejon airbase later on Tuesday.
(Production: Michael Gore, Silvio Castellanos) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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