It was the mediation of the Bishop of Sanremo-Ventimiglia, Monsignor Antonio Suetta, that enabled a peaceful outcome to the Italian police operation that evacuated a migrant camp in Ventimiglia on Wednesday morning.
Upon the arrival of law enforcement, the occupants — about fifty migrants and Italian activists from the No Borders association — all sought refuge on the seaside rocks.
The prelate was able to persuade them to leave the location without causing any incidents: the migrants were taken to a reception center while the activists were identified and released (except for one Bulgarian who was wanted for a previous offense).
It seems that the diocese of Sanremo may be able to provide a space for their future accommodation.
The evacuation of the camp was decided by the Prosecutor’s Office of Imperia (Italy) for theft of electricity and water, according to a representative of the Italian police.
According to reports, this camp housed up to 250 people on some days: many migrants left the area on Tuesday evening when news of the evacuation started to spread.
The Franco-Italian seaside border was completely closed off on Wednesday morning.
The Socialist Party of the Alpes-Maritimes has asked the Minister of the Interior, Bernard Cazeneuve, to contact the Italian authorities “so that a solution worthy of the values of our two countries and Europe can be found very quickly.”
They have specifically proposed using the Roquebrune-Cap-Martin airbase to accommodate these refugees while their administrative situation is examined.
