STRUGGLE FOR A NORMAL LIFE -- SOMALI REFUGEES IN ITALY

[Blue_Tires]

Fled from a twenty year long civil war many Somali people hope to find a better life in Italy. The Italian state recognizes them as refugees but, at the same time, don’t provide, except for some sporadic intervention, any housing program, any language school, any job searching support.

In this situation many Somali refugees trying to live a normal life forced to sleep inside abandoned building or, in some cases, hosted in welcome centre for refugees only able to give them hospitality for few months.

Considering its position in the Mediterranean Sea and the colonial past that links it with Somalia, Italy is one of the favourite destinations for people who flee the Horn of Africa country.

The common way to reach the Italian coast is to cross the desert by bus or truck to arrive at the shipping points near the city of Tripoli.

If the actual uncertain local political situation doesn’t permit a coherent analysis of the condition of the refugees on the Libyan territory, during the Qaddafi regime, the 2008 agreements between Libyan and Italian governments (with a clear advantage also for other European countries), entailed that the North African country kept in jail the migrants, usually imprisoned to blackmail their families, in order to prevent their departure.

The lucky ones who survived the long and dangerous trip have the right to be put under International Protection, according to the Refugee Convention that Italy and others European countries subscribed in Geneva during 1951.

However the assistance from the Italian state ends here. Except for some sporadic intervention, the government doesn’t manage any program to provide housing for refugees, to help them learning Italian language, to help them to find a job. So, many of them live in abandoned buildings or, when these buildings are evicted, in some welcome centre for refugees only able to host them for few months. In this situation, moving from a makeshift accommodation to another, trying, often helped by local NGOs, to learn Italian and to find a job, the refugees struggle to live a normal life forced to remain in Italy in compliance to the Dublin II Agreement, that prevents people, who are recognized as refugees in an European country, to live in a different one.
http://www.f8mag.com/projects/item/struggle-for-a-normal-life

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Unemployment

Was reported at over 10% in May. The Italian Government is shutting basic services right now - example Hospitals. Another example - Ambulance service. We are hearing a great deal about austerity in Greece and Spain - but almost nothing about the situation on the ground in Italy. No easy answers here - but it's a symptom of a much bigger problem than just the refugees.

The refugees are the last, the least, and the lost. But from the middle class downwards the people of Italy are being thrown under the bus by a group of pols beholden only to Ndrengheta, Cammora (Cosa Nostra not even 1/10 as influential as it used to be), and International Bankers.

The people can't even get a bridge built connecting Calabria and Sicily because the organized crime rings run the ferries. That would creat a lot of jobs. The banks are holding the equivalent of our DOT hostage - and roads through the mountains which would make commerce easier - are halfway done. Again, more jobs.

If those people could have those jobs, they would buy more. If they made and bought more - there would be more money collected in taxes. The Government could do more . . .

My sister in law works for social services in the areas of immigration, emigration, international adoption, and assistance to those living in Italy as non citizens. More than half her financial and services to everyone (including refugees as they are there legally) have been dramatically reduced since last November. She s very passionate about her work - but extremely hobbled right now.

My husband wants the euro to just crash. The analysis paralysis throughout Europe and the waiting for the other shoe to drop is making everything worse. His point - they can't rebuild until its completely broken.

[Blue_Tires]

2. thanks for the insights...

yeah, the whole situation has been a mess...Spain is having huge issues with African immigration as well...

[JustAnotherGen]

3. And don't forget

The Gypsy/Roma and Eastern Europeans. . . . Throughout all of Europe. For every story about legal immigrants/political refugees from Africa - ten stories will never make the news about a woman being trafficked from Estonia or a Gypsy/Roma camp being burned down.

Overall - I am beginning to feel like we are a living in a kill or be killed, eat or be eaten WORLD. It's not just the US - the sickness is everywhere.