Page 11 - ARUBA TODAY SEPT 8

WORLD NEWS A11
Tuesday 8 September 2015

Syrian refugees protest because they want to leave Uruguay

Syrian refugees gather outside the government house at Inde- “But the travel document us this country was cheap, ond group of seven families
pendence Square, in Montevideo, Uruguay, Monday, Sept. 7, that Uruguay gave them is and it’s expensive. Money will arrive later this year and
2015. Some members of a group of Syrian refugees who were valid. What we can’t do is is not enough. There’s no has rejected criticism by
welcomed to Uruguay last year are staging a protest outside the force third countries to ac- work.” Miranda defended some Uruguayans who say
government house, demanding authorities allow them to leave cept it, because it’s out of the refugee program, say- their country should not re-
the South American country. They say local officials promised our reach.” ing that Uruguay hoped ceive more refugees.
more than they could deliver and that Uruguay is expensive The Ashebli family, arrived that the Syrians could have President Tabare Vazquez,
and there are no jobs. outside the presidency a dignified life. He acknowl- who took power in March,
(AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico) building with suitcases and edged that Uruguay is an said in his inaugural speech
bags carrying their belong- expensive country, but said that a “profound analysis”
ings, and said they would the job offers are the same was necessary before Uru-
remain until their demands for everyone and that the guay decides whether to
are met. They traveled aid cannot extend beyond receive more Syrian refu-
from Juan Lacaze, a small two years. gees. Since civil war broke
Uruguayan city some 75 Under former President out in Syria in 2011, more
miles (120 kilometers) west Jose Mujica, Uruguay ini- than 4 million Syrians have
of Montevideo. tially agreed to receive a sought refuge abroad, the
“They told us a lot of things total of 120 Syrian refugees. largest number from any
that never came true,” said Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin crisis in almost 25 years, the
Ibrahim Ashebli. “They told Novoa has said that a sec- United Nations has said.q

L. HABERKORN to Syria or Lebanon, and
Associated Press that he and his relatives will
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay continue protesting outside
(AP) — Five families of Syr- the presidential offices until
ian refugees welcomed to authorities take them to the
Uruguay last year protest- airport. The Aldees family
ed outside the presidency returned to Montevideo a
building on Monday de- week ago after attempt-
manding that authorities ing to travel abroad. They
let them leave the South spent 20 days in the airport
American country. in Istanbul, Turkey, where
Uruguay welcomed the 42 their documents were not
Syrian refugees fleeing civil accepted. “They told us
war in October 2014. The Uruguay was something
members of the families else, and they lied to us,”
now say that local officials Maheer Aldes said.
promised more than they His family was living in the
could deliver. They said coastal city of Piriapolis. Lo-
Uruguay is expensive and cal authorities had issued a
there are no jobs. complaint against the par-
“There’s no future for us ents accusing them of not
here. The government’s aid sending their daughters
plan lasts two years and to school. Authorities later
one has passed by,” Ibra- said the issue was solved.
him Al Mohammed, the The head of Uruguay’s Hu-
head of one of the families man Rights Secretariat, Ja-
told The Associated Press. vier Miranda, told the AP
“I work at a hospital and that the concerns partly
my salary is small, 11,000 stemmed from the frustra-
pesos (about $380). I have tion felt by the family after
a wife and three young their trip was cut short.
sons. What will I do to earn “I understand them. They
a living when the help realize that leaving Uru-
runs out?” Maher Aldees, guay is very hard and that
the head of another fam- creates a great deal of
ily, says he wants to travel insecurity,” Miranda said.