Syrian Argentines are Argentine 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. Like other Arab Argentines, they are universally known as "turcos" ("Turks"),[1][2] like in the rest of Latin American countries.[3][4]
In October 2014, because of the war raging in Syria and increased violence and persecution of civilians, the Argentine government announced that it would begin to receive Syrian refugees in its country, being the second South American nation to do this after Uruguay.[5]
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 Syrians emigrating to Argentina established themselves in the northwest of the country, as did the Lebanese people. The Syrians, like 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. Sarmiento and Alberdi's plan to populate regions emptied of indigenous peoples did not materialize, as most of the newcomers chose cities.[6] 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 migrated further into the country, attracted by landscapes that resembled much of their native land. Many of these people 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 work.[7]
Notable people
Politicians
Vicente Saadi (1913–1988), national senator and governor of Catamarca Province
^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.
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