Brazilian president welcomes Syrian refugees

Brazil is ready to welcome Syrian refugees the country’s President Dilma Rousseff said on Monday, Palestinian newspaper Al-Resalah reported.

During her speech to mark Brazilian Independence Day, Rousseff said: “Even in tough times of crisis, such as now, we will welcome refugees with open arms.”

She expressed her “government’s willingness to receive those who had been expelled from their country and wanted to come here to work and contribute to Brazil’s peace and prosperity.”

Brazil hosts more than 2,000 Syrian refugees. This makes it the largest host of Syrian refugees among the Latin American countries. Syrians form the largest refugee community in Brazil.

In 2014 alone, Brazil received 1,405 Syrian refugees due to the simple procedures put in place for Syrian asylum-seekers. These procedures are due to end this month, but they are expected to be extended, local media reported.

Rousseff said that the image of the Syrian Kurdish boy Alan Kurdi, who drowned during his family’s journey to Europe, shocked her.

The image went viral on the internet and became an symbol of the struggle millions of Syrians face to reach safety.