Disappointed refugees relocated by EU have left Lithuania
VILNIUS, Lithuania – Lithuanian officials say 35 Syrian refugees, relocated in the Baltic nation under a European Union plan to distribute 160,000 refugees across the bloc, have left in search of a better life elsewhere in Europe.
Robertas Mikulenas, head of Rukla refugee reception centre in Lithuania, says a group of 16 adults and 19 children left Monday, likely for Germany.
Mikulenas said Friday they are “free to leave,” adding they could lose benefits in Lithuania if they do not come back within a month.
Syrian Mohammed Ali Abdula earlier told the LNK channel they thought Lithuania was “like Germany and Sweden” but after discovering that wasn’t the case, “it became obvious we do not want to stay.”
Abdula cited “the size of relief and integration process” for his family’s departure.
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