The town council in Naples has decided to introduce several new measures to assist migrants and help them with integrations. There are also plans to push for more humanitarian corridors. The council will be working with churches, NGOs and universities to ensure that migrants have access to healthcare and are exempted from having to pay university fees.
A network to help migrants has been formed in Naples, with a memorandum of understanding signed by the town council. No university fees, healthcare and integration assistance, as well as support for the opening of humanitarian corridors to facilitate visas and asylum requests, are some of the ways the city is planning to improve the general situation of migrants.
Town council to coordinate
The town council, under mayor Luigi de Magistris, will coordinate the network's activities, which includes various organizations, such as the Comunità di Sant'Egidio, Fondazione Santobono Pausilipon, Fondazione Evangelica Betania-Ospedale Evangelico Betania, the Waldensian Christian Church of Vomero, the Methodist Church of Naples, the L' Orientale University and the Federico II University, as well as the GVC non-profit organization and "Chi Rom e...Chi No."
"We are bringing together institutions, government agencies and secular and religious associations. We are working with the foreign ministry and the embassies of countries of origin to strengthen humanitarian corridors in cases such as that of Syrian families, in order to enable them to arrive in Italy without having to engage in dangerous sea journeys. We are giving a message at a time when some are collecting signatures to 'stop the invasion' in Italy," De Magistris said.
Putting Naples on the map as a city that welcomes refugees, De Magistris said, means "not only providing assistance, but also helping people to integrate into the city. We are putting a great deal of resources into this project. Even Interior Minister (Marco) Minniti was impressed by the peaceful methods used in recent days to help refugees, the homeless, and the Roma community. We are also thinking about how to better use the city's older buildings, which could provide a roof to those in need."
Universities to take part
Universities are also involved, including Federico II. According to rector, Gaetano Manfredi, "We already have some students who are political refugees and asylum seekers enrolled in the university thanks to the fee exemption. There are 10 of them, mostly from Syria and the Horn of Africa, and they were either studying already in their home countries, or had just completed their secondary education. Here they are studying architecture, engineering and medicine. We are now broadening the program and are offering healthcare. Accommodation is being provided in cooperation with the Comunità di Sant'Egidio."
The 'L'Orientale' university currently has four student refugees, rector Elda Morliccho said, "but others will be coming. They are studying the languages and cultures of their countries of origin, or international relations. Thanks to the lifting of university fees, they are saving 700 euros per year and have the chance to use library materials for their exams.'' (The photo shows the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding at the Naples town council. Foto/ANSA)