Syrian refugees arrive tomorrow
A young Syrian girl at a UN refugee camp in Lebanon. Photo: AFP
The first group of Syrian refugees are arriving tomorrow from the quota set this year by Iceland. All of the 35 refugees have been living in Lebanon in refugee camps, some for several years.
Twenty-three people will be going to Akureyri and 12 to Kópavogur. Four families arrive in Akureyri tomorrow afternoon. Mayor of Akureyri Eirkíkur Björn Björgvinsson says that the town is ready for their arrival. "We've had plenty of time to prepare for their arrival and now we're just excited to welcome them."
The apartments are fully equipped and support families have been set up to help the families settle. The children will be starting school when they feel ready to, with two of the children being teenagers. "We've been receiving refugees to Akureyri since 2003 so we're familiar with proceedings," added Björgvinsson.
Akureyri is the second largest city in Iceland. Here it is pictured during last week's snowfall. Mbl.is/ Skapti Hallgrímsson
