sAccording to a joint statement by the Minister of State and the Presidency, the Minister of Internal Administration and the Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, these refugees will be welcomed in the Maya municipality of the northern region.
Under UNHCR’s resettlement program – notes that the government – Portugal has already taken in 818 people from Egypt and Turkey of different nationalities (from Syria, Iraq, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia).
“These citizens benefit from refugee status granted by order of the Minister of Internal Administration, being holding a declaration certifying international protection status while awaiting the issuance of a refugee residence card, in accordance with the Asylum Law,” the note specifies. informative.
According to the information disclosed, reception and integration were a priority of the government, in an ongoing effort – involving the central state, local authorities, public and private entities – recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). ), by the European Union and the Council of Europe.
Portugal received today 7 refugees from Turkey, bringing the total number of citizens received under the National Resettlement Program of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to 818. https://t.co/LvEayrVmlh
– Presidency of the Council of Ministers (mpresidencia_pt) September 2, 2021
“Portugal has responded positively to all emergencies arising from rescue operations at sea, having already received 243 people rescued in the Mediterranean over the past few years,” the statement said.
At the same time, within the scope of the Portuguese obligation to the European Commission for the relocation of unaccompanied children and youth, there are already 121 minors in Portugal.
Portugal was the sixth European country to take in more refugees under the EU’s resettlement programme, taking in 1,550 refugees from Greece (1,190) and Italy (360) between December 2015 and April 2018 – who were hosted by 97 municipalities.
On the other hand, under the administrative agreement signed between Portugal and Greece, which provides for the transfer of 100 beneficiaries / applicants for international protection in a pilot phase, 16 citizens have already arrived on Portuguese territory.
Portugal also received 142 asylum seekers under the agreement between the European Union and Turkey, between June 2016 and December 2017.
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