Opposition parties and associations
on Wednesday slammed the cabinet decision to decree a six-month
nationwide state of emergency on migration, insisting that is it
dangerous to portray migrants and refugees arriving in Italy as
an emergency.
"It is dangerous for the public to get the message that migrants
are an emergency," said Amnesty International Italy spokesperson
Riccardo Noury. "Urgent measures at the attention of the
government should instead concern the strengthening of reception
facilities, which must be adequately equipped to assist migrants
and asylum seekers, with particular attention to vulnerable
groups" such as survivors of torture and abuse, victims of
trafficking and unaccompanied children, he added.
Italy's leading trades union confederation CIGL separately
described the move as "disproportionate and unnecessary".
"It is just propaganda aimed at distracting public opinion away
from the country's most urgent problems," said Confederal
Secretary Tania Scacchetti in a statement.
"The increase in sea arrivals cannot be addressed by creating
new centers for repatriation and hypothetical expulsions. The
history of the last two decades teaches us that this is an
inhumane and totally ineffective way to deal with an issue that
is not an emergency, but one that deserves other policies both
at European level and at the level of single states, first and
foremost to change the global imbalances that create victims,
refugees and desperate people in search of a better life," she
said.
Riccardo Magi of opposition party + Europa said the declaration
of a state of emergency was "an admission by the Meloni
government of its total inability to manage migratory flows",
adding that it risks violating the rights of migrants and
refugees already facing "precarious conditions" in Italy.
"In fact, the government will be able to identify facilities to
be used as reception centers and entities that will manage them
in derogation of ordinary rules with reception standards that
are lower than the minimum provided for," he said.
Tuesday's declaration of a state of emergency makes it possible
to ensure more effective and timely responses in terms of the
management of migrants and their accommodation on national
territory with the involvement of the Civil protection
department and the Italian Red Cross, according to government
sources.
At the same time, the same sources emphasise, the structures
aimed at the repatriation of those not entitled to stay in Italy
(CPRs) will be increased and strengthened, enhancing
identification and expulsion activities.
For the activation and start-up of the first urgent measures, 5
million euros have been allocated from the National Emergencies
Fund.
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