Fourty-two Syrian refugees from five different families, more than half children, arrived in Montevideo, where they will be able to go to school, while their young fathers, the eldest being 46 years-old, will first learn Spanish and then will receive job offers to properly integrate in the local society.
These are the first 42 refugees to arrive in Uruguay on invitation of President José ‘Pepe’ Mujica, who he received personally on arrival through Beirut, as also their new neighbours of Montevideo.
They will first stay two months at the Hogar Marista, Casa San José, in the outskirts of the capital, where they will learn the language. Seven teens will attend a highschool, in which students were prepared on the Syrian reality and violent conflict that has so far left over 200,000 dead and caused millions to flee.
Uruguay will host a total of 120 Syrians fleeing the devastating war, as part of an initiative launched after the visit of Uruguay’s Foreign minister Luis Almagro to the Zaatari refugee camp, in Jordan, where 120,000 Syrians live. A visit that shocked the minister and convinced Mujica to take action. Uruguay and Brazil, who for some time has been contributing, in December will launch a call for other South American nations to offer help to the Syrian population fleeing the violence.
[FB/BO]