Press
Release MSF - Doctors
Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) will end its medical
activities in a reception center for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in
Pozzallo, Sicily, and in other reception centers in Italy's Ragusa Province,
due to unacceptable conditions including overcrowding and a lack of protection for
vulnerable people, the organization said today.
The minimum standards are no longer met for effective collaboration with authorities, MSF said, reiterating its call for a concrete and long-term response to the medical and humanitarian needs of vulnerable migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
"Despite our
requests, the overcrowding, the lack of legal information, the lack of
protection and the all-round precarious and undignified conditions in which
people are received in Sicily continue," said Stefano di Carlo, MSF head
of mission in Italy. "Under current circumstances, which we fear will
continue, our capacity to offer an effective response to the medical and
psychological needs of vulnerable people—including pregnant women, minors, and
victims of torture—in Pozzallo and in secondary reception centers across Ragusa
Province is extremely limited."
MSF has repeatedly
highlighted the shortcomings of Italy's reception system for migrants,
refugees, and asylum seekers, during months of negotiations with the
authorities and in a report presented
to an Italian parliamentary commission last month.
However, local or
national authorities have so far shown no concrete sign of improvement or a
political willingness to improve conditions, raising concerns that an
inadequate model of reception may become the norm in Italy.
"Less and less
attention is given to the protection of vulnerable people who arrive after long
journeys at sea," said Dr. Federica Zamatto, MSF medical coordinator for
migration programs. "During the landing and in the first reception stage
in Pozzallo, the health and psychosocial wellbeing of new arrivals must be made
the priority. As the Pozzallo center is about to become one of Europe's
'hotspot' reception centers, we are extremely worried that this setup, which we
find totally inadequate, might become the model in Italy."
During the past year,
over 150,000 people have arrived in Italy by sea, and 15,000 of them have
landed at the port of Pozzallo. The MSF team there, made up of medical doctors,
nurses, psychologists, and cultural mediators, has been supporting the Ragusa
Provincial Health Agency with medical screening and a 24-hour medical service,
carrying out more than 3,000 consultations since February.
In secondary reception
centers in Ragusa Province, MSF has provided more than 800 consultations for
people in need of psychological support, particularly for those suffering from
traumatic events.
While MSF is leaving
Pozzallo, the organization will continue its activities in support of refugees
and migrants elsewhere in Sicily and mainland Italy, through projects in
Trapani, Catania, Rome, and Gorizia.
In May 2015, MSF made the unprecedented decision to begin search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea. As of today, the three boats operated by MSF have assisted over 23,000 people. In addition, a new team—made up of a psychologist and cultural mediators—has been providing psychological first aid in ports of arrival. The team has responded to 14 events in eight Italian ports, assisting 2,500 survivors of traumatic events during their sea journey.
In May 2015, MSF made the unprecedented decision to begin search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea. As of today, the three boats operated by MSF have assisted over 23,000 people. In addition, a new team—made up of a psychologist and cultural mediators—has been providing psychological first aid in ports of arrival. The team has responded to 14 events in eight Italian ports, assisting 2,500 survivors of traumatic events during their sea journey.
