Syrian Argentines
Syrian Argentines are Argentine-born citizens of Syrian descent or Syrian-born people who reside in Argentina. Argentina has the second highest number of Syrians in South America after Brazil. Syrian immigration to Argentina has been and is currently, one of the most important Arab migration flows into Argentina. 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.
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 | |
Mainly Christianity (mainly Eastern Orthodoxy), Significant Percentage of Islam Minority Judaism. | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Syrians, Lebanese Argentines, Arab Argentines |
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
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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, they did not settle 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 their numbers decreased 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, they 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.
- Juliana Awada, businesswoman and First Lady of Argentina, married to president Mauricio Macri.
- Carlos Fayt, member of the Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina.
- Juan José Saer, writer.
- 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.
- Jorge Sahade, astronomer and former president of the International Astronomical Union.
- Jorge Antonio, businessman and close adviser of Juan Domingo Peron.
- Lorenzo Miguel, labor leader.
- Marcelo Risk, university professor and scientific researcher.
- Jalil Elías, professional footballer.
References
- 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)
- South America ready to welcome Syrian refugees
- El País. "Al igual que Uruguay, Argentina recibirá refugiados sirios" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- 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.
- 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.