First refugees under EU quota to arrive in Estonia next week
The Ministry of the Interior confirmed on Thursday that Estonia was expecting seven war refugees, who would be placed in Tallinn and in Tartu.
The Estonian authorities confirmed to Greece that they were ready to receive the first refugees under the EU’s distribution quota. Among them are an Iraqi family of five, a man from Syria, and a man from Yemen, the ministry’s press office reported.
In addition to the seven refugees about to arrive, Greece submitted papers for the transfer of another 12 people from Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.
Raivo Küüt, the ministry’s Deputy Secretary General for Public Order and Migration Policy, said that the country’s authorities had done their best and were now able to confirm that the first war refugees in need of protection were about to arrive.
“If everything goes as planned, they’ll be here next week. Upon arrival, they’ll immediately be taken care of by support persons. However, we need an understanding that these people are in need of protection, and don’t want public attention, which is why we’ll provide a more detailed review after they have reached Estonia,” Küüt said.
He went on to say that Estonia wanted to actively participate in the resolution of the migration crisis, and that it would help in solidarity with other EU member states as much as it could.
“No welcoming programme can substitute for the open hearts of the people in Estonia, and it’s in our power to make sure that all the people in Estonia – including those to whom it is a new homeland – feel safe and needed in Estonia,” Küüt added.
Editor: Editor: Dario Cavegn