A group of 51 Syrian refugees arrived at Rome's airport this week. They had been living in Lebanon in areas affected by the Israeli airstrikes. They were evacuated through a 'humanitarian corridor' – an agreement that allows Italian charities to bring refugees into the country if they support them.
The refugees landed at Rome Fiumicino airport on a regular flight from Beirut on Tuesday (October 15). Previously, they had been living in what were described as precarious conditions in Beirut and Saida (southern Lebanon) and in refugee camps in the Bekaa Valley -- areas currently affected by Israeli strikes.
Among them were several women traveling alone with children.
The refugees are supposed to settle in various Italian regions (Calabria, Campania, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardy, Piedmont, Tuscany), where they will receive support in their integration through the Humanitarian Corridors initiative. This process includes learning Italian and, after obtaining full refugee status, entering the workforce.
Syrian children: 'We hope to see Messi and Ronaldo live'
Some of the newly arrived refugees recounted the fear they felt in recent days in Lebanon after hearing the explosions.
Among the arriving refugees was a single mother with her children. "I spent eight years in refugee camps in Syria, facing many difficulties. Now, my biggest dream is to do something great," she said. Her children were born in Lebanon and had never been to Syria. They had also never attended school. The children, after arriving in Rome, said that they loved football, adding that their idols were Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and "we hope to see them live."
The refugees' arrival in Italy was made possible through an initiative set up by the Sant'Egidio Community (an Italian Catholic charity), the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy, and the Tavola Valdesi (the organ representing Waldensian and Methodist churches in Italy), in a collaboration with the Italian Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs.
Humanitarian corridors: 3,000 people from Lebanon
Since February 2016, around 3,000 people have been brought to Italy from Lebanon via humanitarian corridors. Overall, nearly 8,000 people have been brought to Italy via the corridors from countries in crisis worldwide, according to Vatican News.
Marco Impagliazzo, President of the Sant'Egidio Community, welcomed the refugees at Rome's airport, saying: "You left a country at war, Syria, years ago. Now, you have left Lebanon, also involved in a war. Today is a day of celebration, and your arrival is a gesture of peace." He added: "Sant'Egidio wishes you peace in Italy. Peace means school for your children, a home, work for the parents, friendship with Italians, and a future. From today, we are all part of the same community, and we welcome you to it."
Daniele Garrone, President of the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy, said that "our Lebanese collaborators, to whom I extend my thoughts, continue to work to help the displaced. We are considering how to open more corridors." He added that: "Having legal and safe pathways is a tool to fight human traffickers who exploit lives."