They landed at the Figo Maduro Airport on the outskirts of Lisbon at around 5.30am, on a flight specially chartered by the European Asylum Support Office and the EC.
Deputy-Minister Eduardo Cabrita explained that 68 refugees were originally to have travelled to Portugal on Monday, but “health reasons” prevented a family of four from making the journey.
The refugees are mostly families from war torn regions of Syria and Iraq and were expected to be placed at institutions across the country – in Beja, Santarém, Lisbon, Faro, Olhão, Nisa, Torres Novas, Guimarães, Sintra, Braga, Évora, Espinho, Oporto, Setúbal and Nazaré – over the rest of the week.
A further 50 refugees were expected to arrive in Portugal on a commercial flight on Thursday.
“What is important is the availability of Portugal to play an active role in this process, which means we are available at this stage to receive ten thousand people by the end of the year” Deputy-Minister Cabrita announced.