1,000th Syrian Evacuated from Lebanon Arrives in Italy through 'Safe Corridor'

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Over 120 Syrian asylum seekers were brought safely to Rome Friday, bringing the number using a Christian "humanitarian corridor" to seek refuge in Italy from the war in their homeland to 1,000.

The evacuation of displaced Syrians from Lebanon to Italy was launched in February 2016, and steps are now under way to bring asylum-seeking Eritreans out of Ethiopia.

The Syrians, including around fifty children or adolescents, landed at Rome's Fiumicino Airport and were greeted with tears and hugs by members of religious organizations and -- in some cases -- by relatives.

"This project will continue, because it has united everyone. The doors will remain open, because integration through humanitarian corridors works," said Marco Impagliazzo, head of the Catholic Sant'Egidio community.

The programme, which targets vulnerable Muslims and Christians alike, is an alternative to dangerous smuggling routes.

The charities behind the so-called corridor help new arrivals with housing, Italian language courses and skills training.

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