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Slovakia currently home for 470 Syrians seeking asylum in Austria

Xinhua, January 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

The accommodation facility in Gabcikovo in Western Slovakia is currently home for 470 Syrians seeking asylum in Austria, including 179 children, announced Slovak Interior Ministry's press department on Monday.

Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kalinak and his Austrian peer Johanna Mikl-Leitner signed a memorandum in July 2015 whereby Slovakia agrees with providing temporary shelter to up to 500 people seeking asylum in Austria at any given time. The facility has been home to a total of 827 Syrians since Sept. 17, 2015.

As part of its voluntary contribution towards the resolution of the migration crisis, Slovakia has also opted to accept 149 Assyrian Christians, who arrived here in early December. President Andrej Kiska met the refugees on Monday, once they were released from quarantine, which entailed comprehensive medical examinations.

"They were examined extensively, undergoing even the lung X-ray exams and providing blood samples. They've been all given a clean bill of health," stressed Ivan Netik of the Slovak Interior Ministry's press department, adding that the refugees will receive asylum based on humanitarian grounds. Enditem