The city of Trieste is 'violating rules' by not providing all asylum seekers with accommodation, ICS claims. They believe that a slow down in transfers has led to housing facilities being beyond capacity.
The association Italian Consortium of Solidarity - Refugee Office (ICS, Italian original: Consorzio Italiano di Solidarietà – Ufficio Rifugiati Onlus) said in a statement released on Sunday (October 23) that migrant hosting rules were being violated in Trieste. The organization coordinates the hosting system in the northeastern Italian city.
It said that there were not enough spots in the reception system, leaving to some 250 asylum seekers without accommodation. The association added that the "violation" has been "ongoing in Trieste since this summer."
Trieste is located in northeastern Italy, close to the border with Slovenia and less than 20 kilometers from Croatia's northwestern border. Because of this, the city has seen a large number of migrants and refugees arrive via the Balkan Route.
Fewer transfers of migrants, refugees
"If this situation continues in Trieste, we will report (the problem) directly to the interior ministry (and to) lawmakers representing this constituency (because) hosting is mandatory by law (and) not a kindness nor a concession", the president of ICS, Gianfranco Schiavone, said in the statement.
"The new government must ensure that the law is not violated in the North East and that hosting is taken seriously", Schiavone added.
According to Schiavone, this situation "cannot be justified by an increase of arrivals through the Balkan route" but is due to transfers that have "slowed down".
ICS said that "since the middle of July, the number of asylum seekers transferred to other regions has decreased by more than 50%."
Roughly 250 asylum seekers left without shelter
As a consequence, the approximately 1,200 hosting places available for those arriving in the city are not sufficient, the organization said. These people reportedly build makeshift shelters, slept rough or travelled autonomously to other cities.
The number of people who were unable to receive accommodation through the city's hosting system as of October 7 was at least 250 -- but likely more, according to a survey, ICS said.
Transfers have now resumed at a faster pace, "but it is still insufficient" and must be "accelerated", he said.
"New facilities can be useful and we have requested them, including the area of the former indoor market selected by the municipality, but only as an emergency solution", said Schiavone. However, it is "the mechanism of transfers that needs to work."