66 Syrian Refugees arrive in Chile through the Resettlement Program of the IOM, the United Nations Agency for Migration, and the UNHCR, the United Nations Agency for Refugees
On 11 October, a group of 66 Syrian refugees left Beirut, Lebanon, en route to Santiago, Chile, under the Emerging Resettlement Countries Joint Support Mechanism (ERCM), which is coimplemented by the IOM, the United Nations Agency for Migration, and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). At Santiago airport, Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile, welcomed the refugees (38 adults and 28 children). Seven families were located in Villa Alemana and another seven in Macul, thanks to agreements between the Ministry of Interior and those Municipalities. “Our wish is that they, step by step, start leaving behind their fear, pain and uncertainty. We are aware that they come from a difficult history and we want them to find in our country a land that welcomes them with friendship and good will, so they can rebuild their history and raise their families in peace and safety,” President Bachelet said in her welcome message.