Finland receives 11 Syrian refugees

Finland's immigration officials say that 11 Syrian refugees have arrived as part of a European Union deal with Turkey to curb illegal migration.

Hanna Kautto from the Finnish Immigration Service says the 11 refugees, who arrived by plane from Turkey, are from three families. Officials said they were being housed at a refugee reception center before accommodation is found elsewhere in the country.

The arrivals on Monday were part of Finland's quota of 750 refugees it has agreed with the EU to accept this year. In December, the government decided to focus on helping Syrian refugees but Interior Ministry officials said it was not clear how many of the annual quota would be made up of Syrian refugees.

[AP]