Two sisters from Iraq were excited to see snow for the first time upon arriving to their new home in Iceland, RÚV reports.
“First I was excited to come to a safe country, but now I’m more excited to see snow for the first time,” said Melak Muayad. “I’m really happy to be here and I’m also really excited to see the snow,” her sister Rawan agreed. The two girls arrived in East Iceland two days ago with their family of seven, welcomed by local residents.
Nine Syrian and Iraqi refugee families, numbering 42 individuals total, have arrived in East Iceland and the West Fjords as part of the government’s quota refugee program. Ten refugees from Uganda will arrive to Iceland later this month under the same terms.
Three families from Syria landed in Ísafjörður, in the West Fjords, yesterday. They had fled their homes due to war, are stateless, and had been living in difficult conditions in Jordan. Husband and wife Tojan and Ro’aa Al Nashy and their daughters were tired but happy after their trip. “We are very pleased to have come to Iceland and we like Icelanders. We hope we will be happy here and in safe conditions. We thank Icelanders for welcoming us. The country is beautiful but cold. But we will get used to the weather, God willing,” said Tojan.
