Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its commitment to speed up and increase flexibility of procedures required to determine the refugee status of Syrian citizens upon their arrival in Peru amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
In a press release, the Ministry said it will coordinate with the UN Refugee Agency to evaluate the conditions needed to welcome Syrian refugee families through the resettlement procedure.
To date, Peru has granted refugee status to 25 Syrian citizens and reaffirms its commitment to protect, settle, and support them and recognize the right to claim family reunification.
“Peru regrets the unfortunate humanitarian crisis resulting from armed conflict in Syria and the Islamic State terrorist violence, which has affected millions of Syrian citizens and people from other countries of the region,” the document states.
The humanitarian crisis requires an urgent, integrated and coordinated international response to carry out a decent, efficient and responsible procedure to receive and resettle refugees.
According to the Ministry, our country has an old and generous tradition of providing refuge and protection to those who need it. It fact, Peru is a State Party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol.
Furthermore, our national legislation includes the universal and regional definition of refugee, and establishes the corresponding guarantees and rights.
“Peru has already accepted refugees and nowadays is home to 1,800 people from all over the world, who sought such protection,” it added.
(END) NDP/FHG/RMB/MVB
Published: 9/11/2015