By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
SANTIAGO, Chile — Chile will take in refugees, President Michelle Bachelet announced Monday. Speaking at a religious ceremony, she said, “Throughout our history, we have always had our doors open to those, sometimes coming from far away places, bringing their history and cultural to the construction of our nation.”
The foreign ministry confirmed the statement on Tuesday, saying that the refugees would come from Syria. A statement released by Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz stated that “it will happen as soon as possible,” and that the country could initially take in 100 families.
The plan, reportedly presented to the government by a former minister of Syrian descent, would provide shelter for 50 to 100 families, and has the support of the Chilean Arab population.
Chile is expediting the visa process for those Syrians that have requested them.
Many world leaders, including spiritual figures like Pope Francis, have called on countries and communities around the world to take in refugees.
A number of other South American countries have also agreed to take in Syrian refugees, including Argentina and Venezuela. Argentina eased entrance requirements last year, but according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, less than 100 Syrians have arrived in Argentina so far. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced that the country is prepared to grant asylum to 20,000 escaping the Syrian conflict.
Brazil has taken in 2,000 Syrian refugees so far, with over 1,400 granted asylum in 2014 alone.
However, not all resettlement schemes have been successful. Uruguay, who accepted a number of refugees last year as part of a resettlement program, is facing criticism from the refugees themselves. The resettled families, who have been living in Uruguay since October, have been protesting outside of the presidential offices, saying, “this is not a place for refugees.” The families say that they are “isolated and struggling,” which may be due to Uruguay’s minute Arab population and high costs of living.
For more information, please see:
Reuters – Chile mulls plan to take in Syrian refugees: newspaper – 6 September 2015
Reuters – Chile government says it will take in Syrian refugees – 8 September 2015
Voice of America – Venezuela offers to take in 20,000 Syrian refugees – 8 September 2015
Yahoo News – Bachelet says Chile will welcome Syrian refugees – 8 September 2015
Yahoo News – Latin American nations offer to take in Syrian refugees – 8 September 2015
