A Syrian family arrived in Milan, Italy, on Tuesday. They are the first group of refugees that is sponsored by the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI) and the Jewish Community of Milan, as part of the humanitarian corridors project.

The humanitarian corridors projects allows for communities to sponsor refugees and thus secure their relocation to Europe. It was started in 2016 in Italy by the Community of Sant’Egidio, the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy (FCEI) and the Waldensian Roundtable – three Christian organizations. Now, the number of religions involved in the project is expanding.

For the first time, on Tuesday in Milan, refugees arrived that were sponsored by Jewish organizations — the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI) and the Jewish Community of Milan.  They welcomed a Muslim family coming from Aleppo, Syria. The family is made up of seven people — parents, four children, and a relative. The members of UCEI and the Jewish Community of Milan will collaborate with Sant’Egidio to help the family settle into their new life in Milan.

The Community of Sant’Egidio has welcomed 2,400 refugees in Italy so far through humanitarian corridor. These refugees are Syrians fleeing the civil war — 86 more will arrive at Fiumicino airport in Rome on Friday — as well as refugees from the Horn of Africa.  The humanitarian corridors project is also active in France, Belgium, and Andorra.

Source: InfoMigrants