A migrant reception facility only a short distance from two schools is sparking political debate in Molise. It is happening in Vinchiaturo, near Campobasso, in the southern Italian region of Molise, where this summer a private center run by two cooperatives opened in the town's industrial area.

Voicing the concerns of some residents, Angelo Primiani, regional councillor of the 5-Star Movement (M5S) said: "I am genuinely perplexed about the appropriateness of locating an emergency migrant reception center with 100 places -- all for adult men -- in that spot, because the center is less than 100 meters away from a nursery school and a high school, which is causing concern among students and the parents bringing their children to those facilities."

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Fears and context

Primiani added: "There is no prejudice on the issue, but you cannot ignore a context where discomfort and minor episodes of petty crime are experienced directly by those who regularly frequent those places."

The councillor also pointed out that the center's guests "regularly cross the state highway, a busy high-speed road, to try to reach the town or head to other centers. This is a concrete, daily danger both for them and for drivers."

For these reasons, the opposition councillor announced he will write to the Prefect, the local representative of the national government, to request a meeting with law enforcement and institutions, and will also bring the matter to the attention of the Minister of the Interior.

"We want to know whether the conditions actually justify that the center remains in use and what measures will be adopted to safeguard safety and quality of life. They had assured us that the right-wing (Meloni) government had the solution ready for the 'migrant problem'. They said Albania and a few campaign slogans were enough. Today's reality is different: facilities scattered across the territory and no structural solution," Primiani concluded.

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The local Mayor says he is 'waiting for answers'

On November 7, the same day the issue was raised by Primiani, the Mayor of Vinchiaturo, Luigi Valente, spoke out: "We have already been taking steps for some time to report the problem. On September 15th, I sent a note to the competent authorities, including the Prefecture of Campobasso, from whom I am still awaiting a reply," he explained.

In that letter, Valente highlighted how "these initiatives, while absolutely legitimate, significantly impact the territory, potentially causing emergencies in healthcare, public order, and civil protection."

The Mayor also reported that the local Carabinieri station "complains of inappropriate behavior by some of the migrants hosted at the center, potentially giving rise to social tensions," and noted that close to the facility there is "a nursery school, and a hospitality management high school."

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