"Since late May, the state has not made any transfers from Trieste to other parts of the country. There are 500 people who have been abandoned, with an increase in unaccompanied minors, families, the ill," said Schiavone during a press conference on Thursday, August 24.

The press conference was held alongside the Comunità di San Martino al Campo, Diaconia Valdese-Servizi Inclusione, Donk Humanitaria Medicine, International Rescue Commitee and the Linea d'Ombra volunteer association: all bodies that work in the reception field in the city in Italy's northeastern region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia.

Hundreds left homeless, municipality lacks plan

The organizations have made urgent requests for help to the interior ministry, the prefect's office and the Trieste town council to "resume the implementation of a plan for systematic transfers of asylum seekers from border areas through the assigning of adequate quotas."

The Giuliano Isontina university healthcare center has been asked for more attention to treatment.

But the biggest criticism has been directed towards the Trieste town council "for not having drawn up a plan for humanitarian intervention through providing for an increase in beds," Schiavone said, noting that "an explosive situation is being created."

In July, 25 migrants were provided with reception in facilities in the city, while 349 were reported but could not find beds.

In August there were no spaces available and 419 were left without a place to sleep.

"Many migrants live in the Silos, an abandoned area that lacks services and is next to the railway station, where they have long set up makeshift places to sleep out in the open," he added.

The city, Schiavone said, "geographically needs a larger reception system. There is the need to adjust to the time we are living in. The town council instead is like an ostrich sticking its head under the sand," he said.

7,890 migrants in the city since January

From January to July 2023, some 7,890 migrants arrived in Trieste with a peak in July of 2,277 people. These numbers were calculated after monitoring the Piazza Libertà area, which has become a meeting place for migrants, and the city's day-time center by those working closely with migrants.

There was an increase in the summer especially of unaccompanied minors: 204 in June, 491 in July.

In July, 141 children and 55 families were reported. The most numerous were Afghans (77.1%). A total of 120 families have been reported by those working with the migrants.

Of the migrants that arrived in Trieste in 2023, some 5,732 continued onwards to other countries.