First 31 Syrians arrive in Netherlands under EU-Turkey deal

As part of the migration deal between the European Union (EU) and Turkey three weeks ago, the first 31 Syrian refugees arrived in The Netherlands on Tuesday morning by plane.

After their arrival the Syrians were transferred to a refugee center. For privacy reasons the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice did not reveal where they landed and to what reception center the refugees were moved.

Contrary to an earlier statement by the ministry, not 34, but 31 Syrians came to the Netherlands on Tuesday. "For practical reasons the others could not come today," spokeswoman Janet Takens told Xinhua. "However, those other three will come as soon as possible."

The migration deal involves Syrians who have shown in Turkey that they have the right to request a residence permit in The Netherlands. Turkey takes back refugees from European countries that can't stay there, while in return Europe takes Syrian refugees from Turkish camps.

The Netherlands, Germany and Finland are among the countries that have agreed to take refugees from Turkish camps, with several Syrians already arriving in Germany and Finland on Monday. The Syrian refugees were selected in various refugee camps in Turkey by the UN refugee agency UNHCR, in cooperation with the Turkish authorities.

The spokeswomen of the Dutch Ministry said when the next Syrian refugees will fly from Turkey to the Netherlands is not yet known. Enditem