(by Stefano de Paolis)
(ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 29 - Wrapped in a peace flag with
his son in his arms was how the first Syrian refugee transferred
to the Italian capital from Lebanon entered Terminal 5 of
Fiumicino airport, as part of a pilot project for 'humanitarian
corridors' bringing refugees to Italy.
Some 93 people including 41 under the age of 18 came after
the man (24 families total).
Awaiting them was Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni, who after
warning in an interview with Handeslblatt that Europe was ''on
the verge of the abyss'', said Monday that he was pleased with
this initiative - by civil society in coordination with
government institutions - that enables the most vulnerable
refugees ''to arrive without having to suffer violence and
blackmailing at the hands of human traffickers''.
He added that it was a ''message'' to Europe, made possible
by a Protocol of Understanding signed by the foreign ministry,
interior ministry, the Comunità di Sant'Egidio, the Federation
of Evangelical Churches in Italy and Tavola Valdese.
It marks the first step of a project that foresees the
arrival of a thousand refugees in two years: 600 from Lebanon,
150 from Morocco, and 250 from Ethiopia, all of whom
particularly vulnerable refugees.
The 93 Syrian refugees that arrived on Monday left the
airport on five coaches: 30 headed for Trento, where local
dioceses will provide accommodation for them, and another two
groups towards Reggio Emilia and Turin, where parishes from the
dioceses will provide accommodation; and 23 towards Aprilia,
where the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy will be
responsible for them (they will also provide accommodation for
those hosted in Florence).
Another group will remain in Rome, hosted by the Comunità di
Sant'Egidio.
Some of the refugees smiled on arrival and others were
overcome by tears, as was the case with two parents holding five
small children (4 boys and a girl) by hand.
Gentiloni said that their arrival sends a ''message'' to
Europe that ''large migration flows cannot be handled through
unilateral decisions, erecting walls or fences'', which only
''pose a risk to Europe''.
''To truly deal with the migration issue,'' he said, ''we
need different things.''
''Of course we need peace in Syria,'' he added, ''and a
glimmer of hope has been seen with the ceasefire that began on
Saturday'', however we ''also need to increase cooperation with
Africa. We need to support countries like Lebanon, Jordan and
Turkey, which are at the center of refugee reception. We need
joint efforts at the European level.''
''Behind this range of initiatives, there are humanitarian
corridors, which in this case are financed by the '8 per Mille'
(through which Italian taxpayers can elect to donate part of
their taxes to specific causes, Ed.) from NGOs supporting the
initiative,'' the minister noted, adding that he hoped the
''message sent today by Rome will prove contagious, and that
other European countries will decide to follow the example.''
(ANSAmed).
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