Over 150,000 Ukrainian refugees arrived in Italy -- the Italian administration has provided shelter for less than 20%, who were placed in hotels, shelters and supported by Italy's Civil Protection. This is according to a new report by IDOS, an Italian Study and Research Center.
The over 150,000 people fleeing war in Ukraine benefited from a legislative measure which had never been implemented in Italy before.
While the decree included access to protection and shelter, most of the refugees were taken in by their own fellow countrymen already residing in Italy instead of being hosted in public structures.
After six months, less than 14,000 persons found a place in the Italian shelter and integration system (SAI). This is one of the findings from a statistical dossier on migration for 2022, conducted by IDOS.
Innovation introduced by the Ukrainian crisis
Three weeks after the EU's decision to activate for the first time Directive number 55 of 2001 on "providing temporary protection" to Ukrainian refugees fleeing war, Italy introduced the Prime Ministerial Decree (dated March, 28, 2022) which provided Ukrainian citizens access to protection and shelter.
The decree stipulated that Ukrainian refugees were immediately given the choice of choosing which city (or European country) they wished to relocate.
"This represents an important move forward in terms of access to social rights which should be extended to all asylum seeking refugees, not only in their interest but in the interest of the entire society," commented IDOS.
Secondly, domestic shelter (or in a family) has evolved to becoming public policy under the term "widespread reception".
With this policy Italy's Civil Protection issued a notice in April to assign 15,000 places, distributed between domestic shelter (4,000 places) and apartments made available by third sector entities, through agreements with the municipalities.
Thirdly, Ukrainian refugees were authorized to look for autonomous accommodation and receiving a monetary contribution to this end.
Delays and red tape in launching projects
The expected shelters needed, according to the Italian government, were for around 100,000 persons. At the beginning of September, according to figures of the Italian Civil Protection, Ukrainian refugees were nearly 154,000.
The report states that the amount of shelter provided by the Shelter and Integration System SAI and the Extraordinary Reception Center CAS network (nearly 14,000 places, 9% of the total) remains limited compared to the needed amount of support.
The system of "widespread reception" introduced by the new legislation did not work due to red tape and delays in launching the initiatives, the report alleges.
"What has provided shelter for the majority of Ukrainian refugees is the solidarity shown by Italian citizens (and by Ukrainians already living in Italy). For the most part in fact the refugees were taken in by private individuals, not in collective or public structures."
"Therefore the attempt to offer support, in an organized and sustainable way, and to channel the emotional support felt by society was delayed. Of the over 150,000 Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Italy, the public structures was able to shelter less than 20% between hotels, SAI/CAS and Italy's Civil Protection", reports IDOS.
IDOS recommends to simplify the procedures to launch shelter initiatives, and calls for a proven model "in order to extend the same safeguards to all those arriving in Italy seeking protection from war and real threats for their survival."