The Castel Volturno Solidale network has launched a call to help support the Italian and migrant population in the Castel Volturno area, which has been made even more economically precarious due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A fundraising campaign has been started through a Caritas bank account.
An appeal was launched Tuesday to help the vulnerable Italian and migrant population of Castel Volturno in southern Italy. The town in the Campania region is where a 2008 Camorra murder of several African migrants led to violent protests.
The public register of Castel Volturno shows 5,000 residents, but there is a sizeable number of individuals not listed -- an estimated 15,000-20,000 people. These people are suffering extreme need amid the closure of economic sectors due to the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to prevent its spread.
The request for help came from the Castel Volturno Solidale network, which includes the Capua and Caserta branches of Caritas, the Fernandes migrant center, parishes, Comboniani missionaries, and the Movimento dei Migranti e dei Rifugiati (Migrants and Refugees Movement).
A fundraising campaign has also been started with donations going to a bank account of the Capua branch of Caritas.
Economic and social precariousness for foreigners
Food, medicine, and other basic necessities are needed for many children as well. Almost all of the people residing in Castel Volturno unofficially are non-EU immigrants and most are of African origins. There are also some Italians suffering the same economic and social precariousness.
Almost all are workers paid under the table in the agricultural sector, in bufalo milk production or in construction and -- in the summer -- on beaches as well as in restaurants and pizza places.
Many difficulties and emergencies
Those supporting the appeal say that ''this population is larger than the official figure of 25,000. There are thousands of Italians and foreigners living in an area that is 27 kilometers long, large and complicated to administer. There are many difficulties and emergencies, though, that have been made worse by blind bureaucracy and the precarious nature of stay permits. We thus hope that forms of regularising those already here and their work arrangements will be drawn up urgently. Meeting the basic needs of these people also means fighting against the mafia and exploitation.''