Transfers of Syrian refugees to Croatia are continuing, thanks to the European resettlement program. The International Organization for Migration(IOM) said 24 Syrians arrived in Zagabria on July 10 in the third trip from Turkey.
A third group of 24 Syrian refugees disembarked in Zagabria, Croatia after having left Turkey on July 10 with the support of the UN agency International Organisation for Migration (IOM), as part of the first resettlement programme in the country, which began last year. The refugees included five families: 13 adults and 11 children, 15 males and nine females.
105 refugees resettled in Croatia
Four people were assisted with special travel and transport needs, which included the use of a wheelchair and care for a pregnant passenger. After leaving the airport, the new arrivals were taken to the Reception Centre for Asylum Seekers in Kutina. IOM said in a statement that to date, three groups totalling 105 refugees have resettled to Croatia from the 150 planned through the pilot programme. A total of three selection missions to interview potential beneficiaries under the programme have been carried out in Turkey so far.
The first and the second group of 40 and 41 Syrian refugees arrived in Croatia on 28 November 2017 and 25-26 January 2018, respectively. Support in the host country As was done with the two groups of Syrian refugees who were resettled earlier this year, IOM staff will provide Croatian language and socio-economic orientation courses on topics such as living and working in Croatia, building social networks, getting familiarized with the institutions and organizations, and rights and obligations in education, housing, health, social welfare and employment.
Since the start of the programme, a total of 69 beneficiaries above six years of age have participated in an 80-hour beginner Croatian language course organized by IOM, and 62 resettled persons took part in an 18-hour socio-economic orientation. IOM also conducted skills and education assessments for 57 individuals.