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107-year-old Syrian refugee reunited with her family in Germany

Associated Press
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107-year-old Syrian Sabria Khalaf, right, is greeted by a family member as she arrives at the airport in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, March 17, 2014. The woman who fled the conflict in Syria has been reunited with her family in Germany. German officials say Khalaf arrived from Greece where she had originally applied for asylum. (AP Photo/dpa, Federico Gambarini) (The Associated Press)

107-year-old Syrian Sabria Khalaf talks to reporters as she arrives at the airport in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, March 17, 2014. The woman who fled the conflict in Syria has been reunited with her family in Germany. German officials say Khalaf arrived from Greece where she had originally applied for asylum. (AP Photo/dpa, Federico Gambarini) (The Associated Press)

107-year-old Syrian Sabria Khalaf arrives at the airport in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, March 17, 2014. The woman who fled the conflict in Syria has been reunited with her family in Germany. German officials say Khalaf arrived from Greece where she had originally applied for asylum. (AP Photo/dpa, Federico Gambarini) (The Associated Press)

A 107-year-old woman who fled the conflict in Syria has been reunited with her family in Germany.

German officials say Sabria Khalaf arrived Monday from Greece where she had originally applied for asylum.

Under European Union rules refugees have to apply for asylum in the first member state they reach, putting a heavy burden on Mediterranean nations like Greece and Italy.

A spokesman for the Office for Migrants and Refugees, Christoph Sander, says a decision was made to expedite Khalaf's transfer to Germany on humanitarian grounds.

Khalaf, who fled Syria seven months ago, was greeted by 20 family members when her plane arrived at Duesseldorf airport, the dpa news agency reported.