Lebanon/Italy: Italian charity flies 101 refugees from Beirut to Rome

A group of 101 Syrian and Iraqi refugees were flown into Europe from Beirut to Rome on Tuesday, as part of the Sant'Egidio charity's humanitarian corridor project.
The refugees had been living in a camp in Lebanon before being selected by the Catholic charity. After gathering at Saint George's School in Beirut the group of 97 Syrian refugees and 4 Iraqi refugees where brought to the Rafic Hariri International Airport where they boarded a plane for Rome. After arriving at Rome's Fiumicino airport, the group was met by Catholic clergymen and officials from Sant'Egidio, as well as press and pro-refugee activists.
The refugee relocation from Lebanon to Italy is part of the ongoing humanitarian corridor project organised by the Community of Sant'Egidio, the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy and the Waldensians. Working with the full support of the Italian Government, the Christian groups hope to bring a total of 1,000 refugees into Italy over the next two years.