Syrian Argentines

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Syrian Argentines
Sirio-argentinos
Regions with significant populations
Argentina: Mainly Buenos Aires, Salta, Jujuy, La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Santiago del Estero, Misiones, Chaco and Patagonia.
Languages
Rioplatense Spanish, Arabic
Religion
Islam and Christianity (mainly Roman Catholicism) There has been also a small group of Syrian Jews who settled in the country, mainly during the 20th century.
Related ethnic groups
Syrians, Lebanese Argentines, Arab Argentines

Syrian Argentines are Argentine-born citizens of Syrian descent or Syrian-born people who reside in Argentina. Argentina is the second South American country with the highest number of Syrians after Brazil. Syrian immigration to Argentina has been, and is currently, one of the most important Arab migration flows in the country. Immigration waves peaked in the 20th century, although in recent years due to the constant wars in the Middle East, immigration from Syria has been increasing over time.

In 2012, during the conflict, the Argentine consulate in Damascus received 40 percent more applications for visas.[1]

In 2013, Argentina received approximately 300 families of Syrian refugees.[2]

In October 2014 because of the war raging in Syria and increased violence and persecution of civilians, the Argentine government has announced that it will begin to receive Syrian refugees in their country, being the second South American nation to do this after Uruguay.[3]

History

"Paz para Siria" (Peace for Syria, in Spanish), the message of the Arab Argentine community during the opening parade of the XXXIV National Immigrant Festival in Oberá, Misiones.

Most of Syrians emigrating to Argentina established in northwest as did the Lebanese people. The Syrians, and also as was the case with the Lebanese, were mostly hawkers and did not practice agriculture. Thus, not settled in agricultural colonies, but stayed in the cities in greater numbers than other immigrants. The plan Sarmiento and Alberdi for populate regions had emptied of indigenous did not materialize, as most of the newcomers chose cities.[4] Already in the period from 1975 to 1977 decreases again. The first destination of these groups of Syrian and Lebanese was the province of Buenos Aires and from there many expanded into the country, attracted by landscapes that resembled much of their land. So they settled in Salta, Jujuy, La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Santiago del Estero, Misiones, Chaco and Patagonia. In these provinces were devoted primarily to agricultural tasks.[5]

The Syrian-Lebanese Club in Buenos Aires tries to help those crossing the ocean to escape the bombings. The modern media allow Syrian immigrants two things: help maintain relationships with their families living in Syria and keep them informed of the horrors they had to flee.[1]

Notable people

  • Carlos Menem, politician and former President of Argentina.
  • Eduardo Falú, folk music guitarist and composer.
  • Luis Juez, politician who served as Mayor of the City of Córdoba and later elected to the Senate.
  • Alan Faena, hotelier and real estate developer.
  • Leonardo Favio, singer, actor, film director and screenwriter.

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 http://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/view/50059-Los-sirios-buscan-refugio-en-Argentina Los sirios buscan refugio en Argentina: Denuncian que su país es víctima de una manipulación mediática (in Spanish: The Syrians seek refuge in Argentina: They claim that their country is a victim of media manipulation)
  2. South America ready to welcome Syrian refugees
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. http://amerika.revues.org/2746 Amerika:La emigración Siria-Libanesa a Argentina (the Syrian and Lebanese emigration to Argentina). Retrieved in August 31, 2012, to 14:35pm.
  5. http://www.oni.escuelas.edu.ar/olimpi98/bajarondelosbarcos/Colectividades/Turcos,%20sirios%20y%20libaneses/inmigraci%C3%B3n.htm Sirios, turcos y libaneses. Retrieved in August 31, 2012, to 15:15pm.