Away the migrants from Sicily, but where to transfer them? Who wants to welcome them? The solution to respond to the position taken – “understandable, given the difficulties and complexity of the situation” – of the president of the Sicily Region, Nello Musumeci, exists, but it is neither easy nor immediate, they explain from the Interior Ministry. However, the governor has, with an ordinance (devoid of value because it does not fall within his competence), given until Monday for a solution or he will proceed, in his intentions, to the closure of the entrances and the emptying of the Sicilian hotspots.
“Making the swabed migrants flow out, so with the quarantine now behind us, from the island to other areas of the country is made difficult by, at least for now, the lack of availability of the other Regions”, note sources from the Ministry of the Interior led by Luciana Lamorgese, noting that “unfortunately at the moment solidarity with Sicily does not seem very high” and “maybe tomorrow the willingness to welcome migrants stopped in Sicily would arrive from other regions”. However, this is not an immediate operation, also because once the approval of the Regions has been received, the safety conditions of the centers must be assessed, also to avoid the risk of protests by the communities living in the territories that are the destination of the transfers.
The line of action of the Interior Ministry – although Musumeci has clearly stated that he wants to move forward – remains that of avoiding “the wall against wall, with the tears the solutions retreat and instead here we must go forward”. For this reason, the Interior Ministry “at least for now” will not challenge Musumeci’s order – the hypothesis remains on the table, “we will evaluate”, they say from the Ministry of the Interior – while “the Prefects, as always, are at work in search of means naval and reception centers, the whole network is mobilized, the effort is continuous ”. With this in mind, today the return of the Aurelia ship to Lampedusa was arranged while the organization of migrant transfers from the island’s hotspot continued.
No controversy with the governor or with others – “We are all aware that the situation in Sicily is very complex, that we are enduring many hardships”, sources from the Ministry of the Interior point out since the morning – “Interior Ministry and Government are committed day and night in the search for solutions to ease the pressure on Lampedusa and the whole region. The spirit, therefore, remains that of collaboration despite Musumeci having opposed the considerations of the Interior Ministry with a dry reply: “We go ahead”, attacking the government with zero lift. “From Rome we had nothing but silence – said Musumeci – The central government arrived unprepared and there was no problem with managing a huge number of landings during the pandemic. Unlike those who talk and rant from home, I entered the Lampedusa hotspot. And I know well that those structures are not adequate in terms of health, they are a constant risk for migrants and for those who work there “.
And sources from the Sicilian Region pointed out to the Ministry of the Interior that the president’s ordinance was adopted “from the health point of view and as the implementing body of the Covid-19 emergency. Therefore, it does not affect the “migrants” matter, which is of state competence, but the suitability of the structures from a health point of view to comply with the scientific measures and guidelines on the pandemic ”. According to the interpretation of the Region, therefore, the ordinance “is certainly on a matter of competence partly regional and partly on the pandemic emergency, introducing preventive measures following the decision of the State not to apply the regulations in force six safety decrees” .
A choice, that of Musumeci, who held court throughout the day, collecting applause and support from the center-right, criticism and attacks from the majority. Strong support and “maximum solidarity” from Matteo Salvini to the Governor “who is now asking for the transfer of immigrants from Sicily, after even the mayors of Pd and 5 stelle have opposed the landing of the fake refugees”, said the leader of the League. relaunching its slogan “This government endangers Italy”, while the president of the Brothers of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, dusted off “the naval blockade”, her historical workhorse. “Sicily, like all of Italy, cannot become the refugee camp of Europe. The only way – he wrote on Facebook – to stop illegal immigration once and for all, avoiding deaths at sea and possible health problems. Let’s do it now: it’s gone time to waste”.
An “understandable” ordinance, that of Musumeci for the parent company of Forza Italia in the Chamber, Mariastella Gelmini, while “the government has completely ignored the immigration emergency, has put its head in the sand and led an entire community to exasperation. But for the M5s Sicily it is a “raving” ordinance and there are many contrary voices that have been raised by the Pd. For the dem parliamentarian, Fausto Raciti, “the hunt for the migrant, as well as being barbaric, not only does not protect the Sicilians from the virus, but it confuses and frightens”. The national security officer of the Democratic Party, Carmelo Miceli, defined the order as “confusing, technically fragile, contradictory, unenforceable, illegitimate and clearly in contrast with various higher-ranking rules. In short, a failure “. Above all, “it is creating a bleak image of Sicily, but it is also an insult to the Sicilians who have made a point of pride in their inclusion and hospitality”. For the dem deputy, Matteo Orfini, it is an “illegitimate”, “raving and impractical” act for the group leader of the M5S at Ars, Giorgio Pasqua. The mayor of Messina, Cateno De Luca, invited the president of the Sicily Region to “lead the riot”, while the mayor of Pozzallo, Roberto Ammatuna, spoke of “populism“. The humanitarian organization “Mediterranea Saving Humans” is also very critical, defining the order “delusional.” Populist propaganda blows the fire of bad management of reception centers (think of the dramatic situation of the Lampedusa hotspot). Our institutions have the duty to guarantee the health and safety of those arriving in our country. Fomenting hatred against the weakest, against those seeking salvation and a better life, is simply inhumane ”.
In the meantime, in Lampedusa the landings continued today, nineteen migrants, guests of two communities in Agrigento, tested positive for the coronavirus and about a hundred were saved from the “Sea Watch”.
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