São Paulo – The Brazilian Ministry of Justice signed this Wednesday (13), in Porto Alegre, an agreement with the city hall and the Rio Grande do Sul state government to build an immigrant and refugee welcome center (Centro de Referência e Acolhida para Imigrantes e Refugiados – Crai). The federal government will provide BRL 749,300 for the project. The Porto Alegre city hall will contribute BRL 9,400 and the state government will provide the land.
On Tuesday (12), a similar deal was signed in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. In this case, federal funding will be BRL 1.037 million, with the state providing BRL 21,000. The contract is valid for two years. At the welcome centers, immigrants and refugees get legal assistance, psychological support and professional training workshops.
After signing the partnership agreement with the Santa Catarina secretary for Social Assistance, Labor and Housing, Geraldo Althoff, and with the municipal secretary for Social Assistance, Dejair de Oliveira Júnior, the national secretary for Justice, Beto Vasconcelos, said the creation of immigrant and refugee welcome centers is one of the measures that are being taken by the government to welcome asylum-seekers to the country. Other efforts include changes to immigrant laws, the humanitarian policy of welcoming refugees, and awareness campaigns.
In October last year, president Dilma Rousseff signed a provisional measure allocating BRL 15 million to refugee and immigrant aid. The funds are intended to build and strengthen a nationwide welcome center network, among other actions designed to improve refugee/immigrant assistance in the country.
The number of refugees in Brazil has soared over the past few years, mostly as a result of the ongoing Syrian conflict. Brazil issues a special visa for Syrians and former residents of countries affected by the Syrian crisis. The visa entails reduced paperwork leading to the permit to enter Brazil. To apply, applicants must provide proof of residence in a conflict-ridden country and present an identity document at the Brazilian embassy in their own country.
Once in Brazil, the refugee can apply for asylum. They are allowed to stay in the country while they await approval. By September last year, 8,530 refugees were living in Brazil, 2,097 of them Syrian.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
