The Councillor for Migration Policies in the southern Puglia region has visited the construction site of a facility for migrants in Brindisi, which was damaged by a fire believed to have been caused by an arson attack. Officials there have vowed to press on with their plans to realise the center, despite the fire.
Silvia Miglietta, Puglia's Councillor for Migration Policies visited the construction site of a building complex designed to host migrant workers, which was damaged in a suspected arson attack the previous day.
Renovation work on the facility, originally scheduled to end by May, will now be delayed, officials said.
The fire damaged internal and external parts of the complex's two buildings, which are included in a project financed through National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) funds to host 60 seasonal foreign workers.
Damages are believed to be worth some 300,000 euros, according to initial estimates.
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"The Puglia Region wants to show its closeness to the community of Brindisi and assures utmost attention to the implementation of the project", said Miglietta during her visit on January 20.
"In choosing to make this strategic investment, which involves regional facilities, the municipal administration has given a strong sign of change. A sign which, clearly, disturbs the interests of those who illicitly profit from the life and work of seasonal workers", she continued.
"If those responsible for the fire think they can stop us, they are wrong. We will continue to support every action aimed at destroying the mechanisms of illicit intermediation and exploitation of labor," she concluded.
An agreement protocol will be signed soon with the Prefecture to boost preventive actions across the area of Brindisi, which will also involve the local state attorney's office for the first time.
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The center-right independent Mayor of Brindisi, Giuseppe Marchionna, an economist, and Social Services Councillor Ercole Saponaro also visited the damaged site.
"Those responsible for this gesture will not be able to stop a project that represents a step forward for our city and for the dignity of seasonal workers," said the mayor.
The municipal administration "has already requested an integration of the financial resources necessary to deal with the damages in order to move beyond illegal settlements" currently hosting seasonal workers in the area.
Marchionna added that Italy's special commissioner for immigration intends to visit the site next week, "to evaluate additional funding and an extension of the deadline together" in order to complete the project.
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