As the international press in 2014 focused on the flow of forced migrants reaching Sicily and Lampedusa, far less attention has been paid to what happens to those who end up staying in Sicily. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Italy, known as Centro Astalli, has offices in Rome, Trento, Vicenza, Palermo and Catania, offering a range of services. JRS teams in Sicily witness first-hand the suffering of refugees and other forced migrants struggling to survive there. This report seeks to give a voice to those who agreed to share their experience in Sicily to highlight the urgent need for changes in Italy’s reception system.
As the international press in 2014 focused on the flow of forced migrants reaching Sicily and Lampedusa, far less attention has been paid to what happens to those who end up staying in Sicily. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Italy, known as Centro Astalli, has offices in Rome, Trento, Vicenza, Palermo and Catania, offering a range of services. JRS teams in Sicily witness first-hand the suffering of refugees and other forced migrants struggling to survive there. This report seeks to give a voice to those who agreed to share their experience in Sicily to highlight the urgent need for changes in Italy’s reception system.