Asylum seekers arrive in Malaga

A FERRY docked in Malaga City’s port on Thursday morning (September 24) carrying about 200 Syrian refugees from the CETI immigrant centre in Melilla.

The group arrived at about 7am and was received by the port authorities, the Guardia Civil and Red Cross, CEAR and ACCEM charity representatives before boarding six waiting buses to be taken to shelters across the region.

None of the arrivals will remain in Malaga City, the Red Cross informed, and they are not part of the 17,000 refugees Spain will be taking in over the next two years under the new European Union agreement to face the humanitarian crisis.

All applied for asylum after arriving in Melilla and are waiting for approval. The refugees will stay at the charity shelters for six to nine months and then be given the choice of moving on (many aim to reach Germany or Austria) or remaining in Spain.

Those who decide to stay in Spain will receive help from the Red Cross for another 24 months, with the focus on helping them integrate.