(ANSAmed) - ROMA, 12 AGO - Catholic charity Caritas says it
provides assistance to at least 200 migrants every day in the
town of Ventimiglia on the Italian-French border. However, the
real number of migrants passing through the city in hopes of
crossing the border with France is much higher, the local
Caritas chief says.
The head of the Caritas charity in the Italian border town of
Ventimiglia, Maurizio Marmo, said on August 9 that his
organization has provided assistance to at least 200 migrants
daily this month. "At least 200 migrants are here every day in
Ventimiglia, a number that grew in early August and which almost
always coincides with the increase in arrivals in our country",
noted Marmo. He added that, over the previous two days on August
7-8, Caritas had offered 380 meals: about 190 meals per day. The
average number of migrants in the border city recorded by
Caritas is however underestimated because not all foreign
nationals who pass through the town of Ventimiglia seek the
assistance of Caritas, the organization's chief explained.
'Run out of men's clothing' "We have run out of men's clothing and our medical clinic has conducted over 100 exams since the beginning of the month," Marmo explained. "Arrivals also continue of families from Iraqi Kurdistan, Sudan, Mali, Nigeria, Eritrea, and Syria. Over the past week we counted a total of 50 children travelling with their families." Caritas, with the help of the Sant'Agostino parish, on average hosts between 20 and 30 people every day (mostly families with children), but the lack of a reception center is felt particularly acutely during the summer period with a sharp rise in migrant arrivals.
"The opening of a center," Marmo said, "is very useful not only for migrants but also for my city." Most foreigners sleep in makeshift camps near the Roya river or the railway station or in abandoned farmhouses.
Salvini touched on situation in Ventimiglia Speaking about the presence of migrants in Ventimiglia, far-right League leader Matteo Salvini said that there has been a "blast of arrivals in Ventimiglia, where the presence of immigrants is creating chaos and problems also for volunteers, who are unable to provide adequate assistance. This is the result of the disaster of the Democratic Party (PD) and the Five Star Movement (M5S), who cancelled the [anti-asylum] security decrees". He added that, "I cannot wait for the League to start dealing with security and immigration, to ensure rules, border defense, and dignified reception for those actually fleeing war". Salvini announced a visit to Liguria ahead of national elections scheduled on September 25, adding that "on September 25, Italians will make their voices heard." (Migrants hiding in the woods between the municipalities of Ventimiglia and Olivetta San Michele near the French border.
ARCHIVE/ANSA/CHIARA CARENINI) (ANSAmed).
'Run out of men's clothing' "We have run out of men's clothing and our medical clinic has conducted over 100 exams since the beginning of the month," Marmo explained. "Arrivals also continue of families from Iraqi Kurdistan, Sudan, Mali, Nigeria, Eritrea, and Syria. Over the past week we counted a total of 50 children travelling with their families." Caritas, with the help of the Sant'Agostino parish, on average hosts between 20 and 30 people every day (mostly families with children), but the lack of a reception center is felt particularly acutely during the summer period with a sharp rise in migrant arrivals.
"The opening of a center," Marmo said, "is very useful not only for migrants but also for my city." Most foreigners sleep in makeshift camps near the Roya river or the railway station or in abandoned farmhouses.
Salvini touched on situation in Ventimiglia Speaking about the presence of migrants in Ventimiglia, far-right League leader Matteo Salvini said that there has been a "blast of arrivals in Ventimiglia, where the presence of immigrants is creating chaos and problems also for volunteers, who are unable to provide adequate assistance. This is the result of the disaster of the Democratic Party (PD) and the Five Star Movement (M5S), who cancelled the [anti-asylum] security decrees". He added that, "I cannot wait for the League to start dealing with security and immigration, to ensure rules, border defense, and dignified reception for those actually fleeing war". Salvini announced a visit to Liguria ahead of national elections scheduled on September 25, adding that "on September 25, Italians will make their voices heard." (Migrants hiding in the woods between the municipalities of Ventimiglia and Olivetta San Michele near the French border.
ARCHIVE/ANSA/CHIARA CARENINI) (ANSAmed).
