Having relocated 1,952 refugees in one year, France is still far from its targets and will need to accommodate 17,762 asylum seekers in the next twelve months if it wishes to meet its commitments.
Facing the migration crisis in the border town of Ventimiglia, Xavier Garcia met with Enrico Ioculano, the mayor of Ventimiglia, and visited the two refugee camps in the city with him.
The meeting began with a discussion in which the possibility of increased collaboration between France and Italy was raised to process asylum applications more quickly and to set up a second border reception camp in Piedmont to reduce the congestion in Ventimiglia, which currently has nearly 600 migrants.
A delegation of migrants joined in, holding bouquets of flowers, as part of Italy’s National Day for Immigration Victims.
The visit continued at the Church of Sant’Antonio, where Father Obispo welcomes 70 people, mainly women and minors. The men are housed at the Red Cross reception center under humane and dignified but difficult conditions due to the camp’s congestion.
Xavier Garcia will promptly draw the attention of the Ministry of the Interior to the need for collaboration with Italian authorities and demonstrate solidarity with the municipality of Ventimiglia, whose Mayor faces challenges with exemplary and great humanity.
