UN praises Mujica's initiative to provide home for Syrian orphanded children
Monday, May 26th 2014 - 07:17 UTC
UN praises Mujica's initiative to provide home for Syrian orphanded children
The United Nations' refugee commission expressed gratitude that Uruguay is preparing to provide a new home for 100 children orphaned by Syria's civil war. Senior regional UNHCR official Michelle Alfaro said there are more than 2 million Syrian refugees in all, and Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan can't handle them all, so the agency hopes to relocate 30,000 this year.
Germany took 5,000 Syrian refugees last year and has agreed to take another 5,000 this year. Brazil has granted humanitarian visas to 2,000.
President Jose Mujica's offer to take 100 children “is a drop in the ocean, but each effort by each country is very important and welcome,” Alfaro said.
Mujica said the orphans could be housed at first at the presidency's summer retreat, a mansion and riverfront estate surrounded by rolling pastures.
But Alfaro said the U.N. High Commission for Refugees almost never relocates orphans without their families — each child will have to come with at least one other relative. That means the total number Uruguay eventually accepts still must be worked out, particularly since Mujica's government would be responsible for all their expenses.
More:
http://en.mercopress.com/2014/05/26/un-praises-mujica-s-initiative-to-provide-home-for-syrian-orphanded-children