As the Secretary of State for Internal Affairs, João Almeida, commented in Brussels that Portugal already has "created the conditions for reception and integration" for a hundred refugees, the first group was settling in to accommodation in Penela, Coimbra.
João Almeida said that Portugal was now ready to start to take its share and had "immediate availability" for about a hundred refugees, part of 160,000 for whom Brussels had nominated countries.
The President of the Portuguese Council for Refugees, Teresa Tito Morais, responded that Portugal’s delay was shocking.
Yesterday’s intake, not part of the 4,500 agreed for Portugal at an EU level, were from Syria and Sudan after having spent three years in a camp in Egypt. These first arrivals were a result of a United Nations national reinstallation programme and the number should have been higher but for a family of five who changed their minds at the last minute after months in Egypt.
The group of 14 was received by the Mayor of Penela, Luís Matias, who was quick to inform them that a school is already able to receive the children.
Fouad Nadeem, one of the refugees, said he hoped to learn the Portuguese language and wanted to get a job. The former manager of a shopping center in Aleppo said also that he hopes to live with "these good people" in a peaceful way and that in Portugal, he feels safe.
The refugees will be accommodated in T3 and T4 apartments owned by the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation and managed by the local municipality.
The Sudanese and Syrians will live alongside seven Portuguese families already living in the complex.
Matias admitted the possibility of "some concern" by the local population but pointed out that, above all there is "a strong desire to welcome and receive these people" and that noone can remain indifferent to their plight.
Jaime Ramos, President of the ADFP Foundation (Assistance to Professional Development and Training), one of the entities responsible for the refugee integration project, said he was confident that a "fraternal response" will be given by local people and institutions and said the main thing is that the refugees already are starting to learn Portuguese.
Rui Marques of the refugee support platform (PAR) said that Portugal’s response to date has been feeble and that Portugal has no idea when it will start to take in its proper share of the refugees, despite having agreed the 4,500 figure over a month ago.
