“We cannot emphasise strongly enough that the only way to tackle “irregular” migration is to open channels which are legal, secure and managed at a European level. In the meantime, we are in complete solidarity with those who continue to save lives at sea in the Mediterranean. Whilst others spew words of hate, and risk inciting violence, we choose welcome.”
Rome (NEV), 30th August 2020 – “Following the disembarkation last night, during which over 300 people arrived on Lampedusa, the situation on the island is clearly untenable, first and foremost for migrants who, after all that has happened, have been forced into an overcrowded building, but also for residents and tourists,” declares Paolo Naso, co-ordinator of Mediterranean Hope, the migrant and refugee programme of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy (FCEI), present on Lampedusa since 2013. “We, for our part, have been engaged in the disembarkations, in helping organisations and institutions to manage the first moments of arrival of these people. We strongly appeal for the immediate activation of networks, temporary or otherwise, to welcome these most vulnerable people. As Protestant churches we are ready to work with institutions and other organisations to find solutions to meet this emergency.
We are nonetheless facing an emergency which was entirely predictable, given the conditions in Tunisia and Libya.
We cannot emphasise strongly enough that the only way to tackle “irregular” migration is to open channels which are legal, secure and managed at a European level. In the meantime, we are in complete solidarity with those who continue to save lives at sea in the Mediterrean. Whilst others spew words of hate, and risk inciting violence, we choose welcome.
Finally, we offer our sympathy for the young victim, brought to Lampedusa yesterday by the Louise Michel, for whom this morning on Lampedusa we held a moment of reflection and memorial”.
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Drawing by Francesco Piobbichi, homage to Banksy and to the Louise Michel
