81 refugees arrived in Spain on Wednesday from Italy under the European Union relocation programme set up to tackle the humanitarian consequences of the war in Syria. The refugees, of Eritrean nationality, arrived at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport in two groups, one comprising 20 people, which landed at around 10:30 am, and a second group, comprising 61 asylum-seekers, which landed at around 5 pm.
Of the 81 refugees, 67 are men, 12 are women and two are children, who will be relocated to Cordoba (13), Asturias (9), Navarre (9), Valencia (2), the Balearic Islands (11), La Rioja (4), Alava (3), Guipuzcoa (3), Murcia (5) and Madrid (20).
Spain has now taken in a total of 979 applicants for international protection, 690 under the relocation programme and 289 under the resettlement programme.
The Spanish System for the Reception and Integration of applicants/beneficiaries of international protection offers its beneficiaries a stay at a reception centre of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security or of an NGO (subsidised by the government) at which they are guaranteed lodging, meals, legal advice, psychological assistance, social care and advice, accompaniment to education centres, public health and social centres, language learning and basic social skills, guidance and intermediation for vocational training and job reinsertion, cultural activities and economic aid.
Pool Moncloa