São Paulo – People fleeing Syria due to armed conflict will receive special visas to enter Brazil, according to a norm issued by the National Committee for Refugees (Conare), an arm of Brazil’s Ministry of Justice, this Tuesday (24th) on the Official Gazette. The privilege will also be extended to the refugees’ families.
According to information released by the Ministry, last Friday (2nd) alone, out of 130 asylum requests approved by the Conare, 27 were placed by people who had fled the conflicted area. Due to the clashes in Syria, approximately 2 million people have left the country, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (Unhcr).
Many have eloped into nearby countries, like Lebanon, which currently shelters 720,000 refugees in camps, Jordan, with 520,000, Turkey, with 464,000, Iraq, with 200,000, and Egypt, with 111,000. The Unhcr representative in Brazil, Andrés Ramirez, notes that the decision made by the National Committee for Refugees reflects Brazil’s humanitarian commitment to keeping its borders open to Syrian conflict victims.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
