MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – A group of Syrian refugees who were welcomed to Uruguay last year are demanding that authorities let them leave the South American country.
Uruguay welcomed five families of 42 Syrian refugees fleeing civil war in October 2014. Two of the families protested Monday in front of Montevideo’s presidency building. They say local officials promised more than they could deliver and that Uruguay is expensive and there are no jobs.
Maher Aldees, the head of one family, says he wants to travel to Syria or Lebanon, and that he and his relatives will continue protesting outside the presidential offices until authorities take them to the airport.
The Aldees family returned to Montevideo a week ago after spending 20 days in the airport in Istanbul, Turkey, where their documents were not accepted.
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