The opening of a refugee center in Burbaguena, Spain, has revitalized the village, increasing its population from approximately 200 to over 350. Local residents, especially the elderly, are pleased to see children playing in the streets, indicating a return to community life. The center has hosted over 1,000 refugees since its inception in 2021, with about 100 individuals opting to stay permanently. Organizations like Accem believe that rural areas provide better integration opportunities for newcomers, while local businesses have reopened, marking a positive turnaround for this previously depopulated village.
"Seeing so many children is wonderful," said 73-year-old pensioner Pilar Rubio, who immigrated to Germany in her youth before moving back to the village located on the banks of a river in the inland province of Teruel.
Accem, a Spanish non-profit organisation that helps refugees and migrants, picked Burbaguena for the centre because "cities are becoming less and less hospitable," said the agency's regional manager, Julia Maria Ortega Garcia.
Nestor Garcia, a 35-year-old from Venezuela, got a job at a local jamon factory as soon as he received his work permit. The family plans to stay in Burbaguena.
Over 1,000 people have passed through the refugee centre since it opened its doors in 2021 while they wait for their refugee claims to be processed, and around 100 have decided to stay.
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