The family of 5 is among the 2,234 refugees being admitted to the U.S. since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011.

WARWICK, R.I. — An airport greeting party Thursday cheered the first Syrian refugee family to be resettled in Rhode Island — among fewer than 3,000 Syrians resettled in the United States since a civil war broke out in Syria in 2011.

At the foot of the T.F. Green Airport escalator, greeters held welcome signs in Arabic and English, and gift bags of crayons, coloring books, toys and candy for the children. The crowd included representatives from Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, the sponsoring agency that will help smooth the family's adjustment to their lives here.

"I am very happy, very gratified and very optimistic to be here," said Hussein Ghazala, as his wife, Bidur Diabkilli, and their three children — ages 8, 7, and 6 — accepted embraces. The family spent several years in Turkey after fleeing civil war in their homeland. They arrived in Rhode Island from Chicago, the international port of entry where they received final clearance to the U.S. on Wednesday.

Baha Sadr, refugee resettlement director DIIRI, said the agency "has not had any Syrian refugees, ever." According to the U.S. State Department website, only 2,234 Syrian refugees have been admitted to the United States between October 2010 through Nov. 25, 2015.

The airport greeters included several Syrian immigrants (immigrants come voluntarily to another country: refugees come through international auspices after fleeing situations that include war, persecution and natural disaster), members of the clergy, representatives from The Refugee Dream Center in Providence and the Islamic community.

Sterk Zaza, who immigrated to Rhode Island from Syria as a child in 1979, drew the unofficial welcoming party to the airport through social media. "When I heard about this family coming — I can't even tell you the words," she said. "I am so proud of everyone who made this possible."

The Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, said, "The Episcopal Church is very intentional about welcoming refugees who are fleeing religious and secular violence, and the diocese is excited to be part of this welcoming. There have been a number of parishes around the diocese" who have asked how they can help any Syrian refugees to arrive here.

President Barack Obama last year directed his administration to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees. More than four million people have fled the fighting in Syria since the uprising began in the spring of 2011: most are living in camps in Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq, where the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees registers them.

While several legislators and outside groups pressured Governor Raimondo last fall to close Rhode Island’s doors to any Syrian refugees fleeing from violence and oppression, Raimondo declined to do so. She said the state would welcome any Syrian refugees "with compassion," if asked by the federal government to do so.

The Rev. Donald B. Anderson, executive minister of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, noted that faith communities were among those who urged Raimondo to keep Rhode Island's doors open. He was glad to be on hand Thursday.

"It's one thing to talk about this in theory. It's another thing to have real live people — I think it's worth being here to celebrate," Anderson said.

Sadr, of DIIRI, said the State Department "controls the traffic flow" of refugees and works with resettlement agencies throughout the country. DIIRI is one of 36 member agencies of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, the domestic refugee resettlement body that allocates cases to different states.

Sadr said DIIRI's job "is very clear. We start processing them, get them situated in their new home, enroll them in our ESL programs ... find employment. We help them navigate the system every step of the way."

kziner@providencejournal.com | On Twitter: @karenleez