Fortunately 2015 ended

The numbers of 2015 are horrible, they recall homicides, daily deaths that did not seem to end, fostered by policies that have not been corrected even when confronted with racism and the deaths of children.

931 - 237 - 150 - 200 - 73 are only the numbers of the latest arrivals – of minors, of Moroccan citizens, of migrants withhold at the new hotspot of Trapani and of those who demonstrated for days in Agrigento. 

Numbers and facts which reveal that the year 2015 ended exactly as it started, in total confusion, with the indifference of institutions and through the intervention of volunteers and activists who allow this system to still remain into place instead of crumbling.

The truth about the Hotspot policy – violations and illegal actions on Lampedusa island

In the last couple of weeks, dozens of people coming from Mali, Gambia, Pakistan, Somalia, Eritrea and Nigeria, have arrived in Palermo as well as in Catania and other Sicilian cities. In their hands a decree of deportation, which orders them to leave Italy within seven days via Rome Fiumincino airport. All these people first arrived in Lampedusa, where they have been brought after having been intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea. 

Those migrants were not given the right to ask for international protection, although they have been in contact with the UNHCR. 

Agrigento: Hundreds of refugees, among them people from Somalia and unaccompanied minors, rejected and left out on the street

“Seven Days,” that is how refugees call the order for “delayed deportation” according to section 10 paragraph 2 of the unified text about migration which asks them to leave Italian territory from the airport Fiumicino in Rome in the course of seven days. During the last months, this happened to hundreds of people and, how the last days showed, the numbers are increasing. The province Agrigento is home to the most severe situation, which is not a coincidence.

The Right of Asylum becomes a Utopia

In the last few weeks, while the news in the newspapers has focussed on other events, Italy has continued to deny young migrants a future and a hope: those running from the hands of terrorists, from “democratic” bombs, from multinationals, from slavery, from the desert and the sea, are ending up under a bridge or in a doorway.

The hope of which we speak is called international protection, which today seems little more than a utopia – both for those who have been in Italy for some time, and those who have arrived in recent days. In the midst of almost total silence, the Italian government has signed or revived agreements with various African nations (Tunisia, Egypt, Nigeria, Gambia), covered by large sums of money, both to impede departures headed for Europe and to promptly repatriate those who are not stopped by the desert, the traffickers or the sea.

Stories of Migrants: From Lampedusa to travel documents

Meridionews.it – First, the long journey that starts at the Ivory Coast, in Guinea, and in Mali. Then, there are several weeks of staying in Libya and attempting to acquire enough money – approximately 450€ – for crossing the Mediterranean Sea. Finally, there is the arrival in Lampedusa, which is at the same time the beginning of a new odyssey through Sicily. This is the story of four teenagers who arrived in Catania Wednesday morning. All used names are pseudonyms.

They met each other in an abandoned house outside of Tripoli. Migrants from various countries are placed there by human traffickers, where they are waiting until they can board a ship. Their stories are diverse yet have one thing in common: the necessity to leave their homes.

October 3rd commemorated through illegal deportations

We have learned to our disdain that last monday, September 28, the police station at Ragusa gave notice for the rejection of 22 migrants from the CSPA* at Pozzallo. Among them are 9 women, of whom two have been identified as minors, and one is pregnant. 

Their nationalities: Madagascar, Comoros, Egypt and Somalia. Witnesses confirmed that the migrants, after being shown the door of the centre at about 8pm, wandered through the streets of Pozzallo for a few minutes when a bus drove up and offered them transportation to leave Sicily.

As has been revealed in recent days, in Catania, Palermo and Syracuse the authorities continue to violate fundamental rights, and to hand migrants over to the hands of traffickers ready to do business from them.

Migrants turned away from Catania and Syracuse

On 30 September 2015 between 10-11am, a boat arrived in the port of Catania. It had aboard 234 migrants, who had been put together from two separate rescues: one boat with 124 people; one with 110 people. This information was gathered from the few migrants who stayed in Catania. The majority of the group were transported out of the city on four coaches. They also said that waiting for them at the port on their arrival, in addition to the police were, members of other organisations including: UNHCR, the Civil Protection, Save the Children and OIM*. Some of those aboard were in need of medical treatment and were hospitalised. In addition to the adults, some children were also among those who arrived.