The first Syrian refugees received in Romania
15 refugees coming from Syria and Yemen have arrived in Romania today.
România Internațional, 04.03.2016, 14:08
15 refugees coming from Syria and Yemen, two countries ravaged by war, where the Islamic State terrorist group is very active, arrived at the Galati-based Regional Centre in southeastern Romania on Thursday. They are the first of a total of over 6,000 refugees that Bucharest has pledged to take in as outlined by the distribution quotas from EU for the continuing refugee crisis.
The centre provides accommodation and special procedures to asylum seekers and was set up as early as 2004. It already provides shelter to people coming from such countries as Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Algeria. The 15 refugees have been accommodated in the same centre. They have requested political asylum in a European country, and with their consent, have been sent to Romania. Before reaching Galati, the refugees spent several months in Greece while Greek and Romanian states exchanged information to identify the persons who required international protection. Bucharest accepted Athens’ proposals only after specific analyses and security checks had been made.
According to the General Inspectorate for Immigrations, the group of Galati-bound refugees includes 10 young people and a family – parents and three minor children, one of them a 7-month-old baby. Until a decision is made to grant or refuse asylum in the next 30 days, the refugees will reside in the centre and receive medical, psychological, legal and material assistance, as well as support from NGOs active in the fields of asylum and integration. If the refugees receive a stay permit, they will be allowed to move freely across Romania. Like all European countries, public opinion in Romania is divided over the issue of hosting refugees. Some locals in Galati are disgruntled over their arrival:
“How much does the state have to pay for a migrant a month? Approximately 1,000 lei, which exceeds the national minimum wage. So, is it ok? It is not.”
“Life is difficult for us as it is, and now we’re supposed to accommodate others? I come to your home, sit at your table, one day, maybe the next day too. Then, I bring along my wife, too. You are willing to put me up for the week, but you can’t do that the next week.”
“Everyone should keep their people close by. Our people go abroad and we have to take in migrants? This doesn’t sound right to me.”
In the meantime, 115 refugees from Italy and 120 from Greece will come to Romania while the EU remains divided on the issue, members are sustaining political efforts to manage the migrant crisis, which could turn into a humanitarian disaster. With the EU-Turkey Summit scheduled for March 7, Romania’s next move will fall on Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos as the representative. Bucharest will stand for tightening security on the EU’s external borders, for boosting cooperation and solidarity with European leaders to find a solution for the influx of migrants.
(Translated by D. Vijeu)
