Cold and tired, Syrian refugees arrive in St. John's

The first of 100 government-sponsored Syrian refugees landed at St. John's International Airport Thursday, and the Association for New Canadians will spend a busy couple of weeks helping them settle in.

"We have 19 plus families that will arrive today or tomorrow," said settlement coordinator Tina Power. "We just received six of them so it's going to be a busy few days for us."

Power said the Association expected 60 refugees, but is getting more and there is a lot of work to do.

"Our families right now are in temporary accommodations. We have 10 to 15 days to find them permanent accommodations."

The refugees are exhausted, but happy, Power said.

"The kids said they're cold and they're tired, but lots of smiles and very eager to get back and settled in."

She said it will take about six weeks to get oriented to their new home.

"Everything from getting a bank account, first shops, apartments, getting furniture, getting them into school, it's quite a busy time."