18th December, 2015
In a first of its kind response to Europe’s refugee crisis, a coalition of Catholic and Protestant organisations have reached an agreement with the Italian Government to provide travel and integration services for asylum seekers from North Africa and the Middle East.
Under the agreement, the Italian Government will provide humanitarian visas to refugees which will only allow residency in Italy while Christian agencies will provide airline tickets to Italy as well as accommodation, assistance with asylum procedures, educational opportunities and Italian language courses.
The Catholic lay movement Sant’Egidio, with the support of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy (FCEI), will shorty open offices in Morocco and Lebanon with a third possibly to be opened in Ethiopia. The first arrivals under the scheme are expected to reach Italy at the end of January with about 1,000 asylum seekers expected to enter Italy under the program in coming months.
The agreement, which will be funded initially with €1.2 million from Christian organisations, aims to provide air travel as an alternative to the dangerous sea crossing.
Luca Maria Negro, president of the FCEI, said the project was the first of its kind in Europe. "We hope that other countries and churches will follow…" he said. "We are thrilled that the agreement will allow vulnerable people to enter Italy legally and seek asylum here."
Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, described the agreement as an "essential early step in addressing the humanitarian crisis facing many places in the world".
"It is a model for churches, related faith-based organisations, governments, and the international community to act together in the interest of humanity," he said following a meeting with Italian religious leaders this week.
– DAVID ADAMS
