- Title: URUGUAY-SYRIAN REFUGEES First group of Syrian refugees arrives in Uruguay
- Date: 9th October 2014
- Summary: MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY (OCTOBER 9, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SAN JOSE CATHOLIC RESIDENCE WHERE REFUGEES WILL STAY VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS AWAITING ARRIVAL OF REFUGEES NEIGHBOURS WAITING FOR ARRIVAL OF REFUGEES BUS WITH SYRIAN REFUGEES ARRIVING PEOPLE WITH SIGNS TO WELCOME REFUGEES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NEIGHBOURHOOD RESIDENT, VIVIANA OSIMANI, SAYING: "It's exciting, beyond p
- Embargoed: 24th October 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Uruguay
- Country: Uruguay
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVACO57B0B20G4RHYFL9APHE0ASK
- Story Text: The first group of Syrian refugees arrived in Uruguay on Thursday (October 9) as part of an initiative on behalf of President Jose Mujica's government.
A crowd of journalists and neighbourhood residents waited outside the Catholic residence in the outskirts of Montevideo where the mainly Sunni Muslims will stay for their first few months in the South American country.
Viviano Osimani lives close to the residence that will house the refugees and came out to welcome them to the country.
"It's exciting, beyond political parties I think it's an exemplary initiative that the government has taken and I'm very proud. I think these are people who have gone through things that we can't even imagine, so yes, I'm happy that they're here," said Osimani.
Teresa del Carmen, another neighbourhood resident, said she was excited about the initiative and hoped to see more refugees in Uruguay.
"This is really something to be proud about, it's really great. I have grandchildren and I would love to see all children doing well, they should bring many more [refugees to Uruguay]," said Del Carmen.
Uruguay's Foreign Relations Minister, Luis Almagro, applauded the measure, saying it highlighted Uruguay's ability to provide humanitarian solutions to global crises.
"It's a historic day because we go back to a Uruguay that is capable of providing solutions. Humanitarian solutions to major global issues, to major global crises and humanitarian crises happening in other parts of the world. It speaks of Uruguay's open spirit and open heart, it speaks of an Uruguay that builds, it speaks of an Uruguay that has a forward-looking spirit and that will enrich itself with new cultures," Almagro said.
Outgoing president Jose Mujica was on hand for the arrival and underlined the importance of prioritising children in human rights issues.
"We must insist that the world moves in this direction, we can't continue with statements on human rights and that we support human rights if later we don't put our words into action, above all for the children."
When asked whether it was the right decision, Mujica emphasised that he sees accepting refugees as a humanitarian obligation.
"I think it's something that has to be done, I don't know if the society in which I live understands, that but I think it's something that must be done because if we don't defend the children…They will say to me that there are very poor children in Uruguay and the Americas and yes I agree but these children are poor and in a war," said the President.
The Uruguayan government has agreed to admit 120 Syrian refugees, the majority being children and adolescents. The first group to arrive is comprised of five families, 42 people in total.
More than 3 million people have fled Syria's bloody civil war. The vast majority of Syrian refugees remain in neighbouring countries, with the highest concentrations in Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan.
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