MIGRANT SICILY Newsletter – March 2016

• Thousands of new arrivals and still deaths: the silence before and after the arrival continues

• Migrant Minors: trapped in the meshes of a system that wants them invisible and without rights

• Announcement renewals and lack of regulation: when the context makes a difference-the case of the province of Enna

• News and events: the campaign LasciateCIEntrare presents its report.. Borderline Sicilia kicks off a new project with Oxfam Italy and the Valdese deaconry

THOUSANDS OF NEW ARRIVALS AND STILL DEATHS: THE SILENCE BEFORE AND AFTER THE ARRIVAL CONTINUES

The increasingly dramatic situation in Libya and in the countries of departure is forcing migrants to travel by sea in the shortest time possible. With an average of 3,000 arrivals every fortnight, disembarkations continue to be managed in a “emergency” way, with a growing role played by the investigation and control activities and an alarming silence on what happens before the departure and awaits those who have just arrived.

http://migrantsicily.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-silence-before-and-after-landing.html

There are still records of withholds in variance with the law and placements into totally inadequate facilities, also towards vulnerable individuals. The failure of the European procedures of “relocation” to the expense of freedom and projects of the migrants that have risked their lives to reach them is constantly confirmed, due to the policies of the same countries that hypocritically advertise their generosity in welcoming people.

http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/03/non-e-un-film.html
http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/03/17-marzo-2016-arrivo-messina-di-595.html#more

Rejections do not stop and the despair of those who are not accepted adds up to those who remain invisible for years. In some Sprar*, the only winning logic is that of the business and cooperatives under investigation may continue their work for months. In other centres, the abandonment of migrants is compounded by weaknesses in structure and services, the total lack of respect for the law and human dignity. Borderline Sicilia visits the centre for first reception, located in the former barracks named Gasparro Bisconte in Messina.

*SPRAR – Sistema di protezione per rifugiati e richiedenti asilo: protection facilities for asylum seekers and refugees

http://migrantsicily.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-fiction-of-despair-mummy-dont-worry.html
http://migrantsicily.blogspot.com/2016/03/visit-to-former-barracks-of-gasparro-in.html

MIGRANT MINORS: TRAPPED IN A SYSTEM THAT WANTS THEM INVISIBLE AND WITHOUT RIGHTS

Narrowing of personal freedom, prolonged treatments, transfers in unsuitable centres and without the slightest assistance. From Pozzallo to Messina the odyssey of migrant children continues, forced to experiment for months the inhuman practices of those who pretend protection while chasing after easy profit.

http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/03/minori-pozzallo-da-settimane-allinterno.html#more
http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/03/minori-stranieri-non-accompagnati.html#more

The precarious and exasperating conditions that characterize the structures of Palermo for unaccompanied minors open the way for tense protests in conjunction with the new arrivals. Attempts of denunciation and resistance to a system that should provide the reception of children but in fact it denies the rights and facilitates the dispersion in the territory.

http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/03/larte-dellimprovvisazione-la-pasquetta.html#more

ANNOUNCEMENT RENEWALS AND LACK OF REGULATION-WHEN EVEN THE CONTEXT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE: THE CASE OF THE PROVINCE OF ENNA

The Prefecture of Enna entrusts through an announcement renewal the centres of the province. A decision made after many months, during which the lack of regulation has encouraged the proliferation of a discrete ‘modus operandi’ on behalf of individual managing bodies, to the detriment of the migrants housed in different facilities.

http://migrantsicily.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-deceit-of-state-asylum-system-in.html

The prefectural assessments continue to not consider the specificity of the Enna area and the need for fundamental work of information and awareness of the citizens, which is essential to ensure a positive welcoming of the migrants who live in the province. Discontent and xenophobia continue to spread.

http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/03/piazza-armerina-come-la-gestione.html

NEWS AND EVENTS: THE CAMPAIGN LASCIATEcieNTRARE PRESENTS ITS REPORT. BORDERLINE SICILY KICKS OFF A NEW PROJECT WITH OXFAM ITALY AND THE VALDESE DEACONRY

Borderline Sicilia attends the press conference organized by LasciateCIEntrare campaign on the occasion of the presentation of the annual report. A police statement, but also an analysis and reflection, created with the collection of national data, which underline the consequences of a reception system based on improvisations policies, illegal practices, systematic violation of human rights.

http://migrantsicily.blogspot.com/2016/03/borderline-sicilia-at-presentation-of.html

Psychological and social support, legal assistance and material for those who remain invisible and disenfranchised due to the illegal practices of European governments. Borderline Sicilia meets Oxfam Italy to promote future collaboration in a project for the protection of rejected migrants of the area, in collaboration with the Valdese deaconry.

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Translation: Catherine Scholz