391 migrants ‘abandoned’ in Italy’s Trieste, say associations

Rome: Several advocacy groups have raised concerns about the plight of 391 asylum seekers living in dire conditions in the northeastern city of Trieste, Italy.

On October 23, several associations voiced their concerns over the situation of 391 asylum seekers in Trieste who have expressed their intent to seek international protection but have not been provided with accommodations, leaving them in a state of “utter abandonment.” The participating organizations at the meeting included ICS, the San Martino al Campo community, Donk, International Rescue Committee, Diaconia Valdese, and Linea d’Ombra.

Most of those left to their own devices from Afghanistan

The associations emphasized that “many of them are living in extreme conditions” within a dilapidated silo near the train station, where approximately 220 people are currently taking shelter.

According to figures released on October 23, since the beginning of 2023 to September 30 some 12,190 people have been assisted in Trieste: an average of 45 per day.

The majority of these people were adults, with 72% hailing from Afghanistan. Out of the total, 8,627 were men, and 2,316 were unaccompanied minors, with 95% originating from Afghanistan. Most of them were believed to be en route to other European countries. Morover, the records show that 202 families and 135 women, either alone or with children, were recorded.

The associations that took part in the meeting emphasized that the current reception system is ill-equipped to meet the present requirements. They reported that during the previous winter, daily requests for dormitory beds exceeded the approximately 45 available spaces.

During a particularly harsh cold spell, 82% of these beds were occupied by asylum seekers in vulnerable situations, they added. Presently, only 8 bed spaces are available, highlighting the urgent need for at least 100 additional beds each day.

At the same time, it is necessary to “systemize the transfers” of asylum seekers to other places, ideally with a weekly bus service, they noted.

Data from these associations indicates that transfers decreased in July and August, saw an increase in September, but again declined in October.