In a press conference on Thursday (August 21), the associations Linea d'Ombra, IRC, NNK, ResQ, Fondazione Luchetta, and the Waldesian Deaconry denounced the situation of approximately one hundred asylum seekers who are sleeping rough on the streets in Trieste, next to the entry area of the Porto Vecchio.

The associations have asked for urgent measures to provide the asylum seekers with stable accommodation, in particular for those who are most fragile.

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'Forced removals with the seizure of blankets and shoes'

"Over the last weeks, a number of forced removals began in the hall next to the entry area of Porto Vecchio, where approximately one hundred persons, lacking adequate lodging, are searching for night shelter," stated the associations.

"The interventions included the seizure of goods such as blankets, sleeping bags, and shoes. This practice is harassing and unacceptable in a State with the rule of law, and we condemn it strongly," they added.

To monitor the area, volunteers organized some garrison points present every day at the site. On Wednesday there was a new intervention by the security forces.

"Following their forced removal, four family groups of which two had minors, were sheltered by the Prefecture. Since a few weeks the two minors avoided sleeping on the streets only thanks to the intervention of the associations that made their emergency shelters available," they recounted.

"In all cases, we would like to flag that the day the seizure took place, many cities sent blankets as gifts: a sign that solidarity from the community exists."

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113 asylum seekers on the streets

The associations referred that "a total of 113 persons who are asylum seekers still today remain abandoned in the streets despite the issue having been notified periodically to the Prefecture since the situation worsened."

"Approximately half have been waiting for three weeks," specified the volunteers.

"Among those who continue to sleep on the street, we register numerous cases of vulnerability, with medical needs that have not been met and have worsened due to the lack of shelter," the associations denounced.

Furthermore, according to the associations in the last weeks, the number of asylum seekers unable to register their request with the Prefecture in a short period of time has increased significantly. Among them, there are also families with minors, women alone, and people with health problems.

Linea d'Ombra, IRC, NNK, ResQ, Fondazione Luchetta and the Waldesian Deaconry call for "urgent measures": the suspension of forced removals and of the seizures of personal property, access to shelter for all asylum seekers, the increase of transfers for all asylum seekers, an adequate increase of the number of transfers, and the activation of a structure with high turnover for the persons abandoned on the street to implement the obligations of the rule of law in the EU.

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