MMC Europe 4Mi Snapshot – April 2021 Needs and challenges of refugees and migrants in northwest

This snapshot offers an analysis of the needs and challenges of refugees and migrants respondents had arrived in the town of interview within the past 2 years: 27 arrived 1-2 in ( and regions). It is based on 51 interviews conducted years ago and 24 less than 12 months before the date of the interview. in five different locations between January and February 2021. The first section of the report covers both refugees and migrants in transit and those aiming at settling in Italy, Figure 1 shows the locations where these interviews were conducted while Figure while the second part focuses on the specific needs of the latter. This snapshot aims to 2 demonstrates the migration status of respondents at the time of interview. The contribute towards a solid evidence base to inform targeted responses on the ground, as respondents were recruited through NGOs from whom they were receiving support, which well as advocacy efforts related to the situation of refugees and migrants in Italy. is likely to have influenced findings on number of respondents having received assistance.

Figure 1. Place of interview Key findings and recommendations n=51

• Most respondents received basic assistance but reported unmet needs particularly in relation to legal assistance and job-seeking support. 14 12 • Provision of reliable and useful information about services, rights and obligations in 11

Italy, which is essential for refugees and migrants to be able to take an active role in 8 their migration path, has been reported as a gap. 6 • For respondents who intend to settle in Italy, the main challenges for socio-economic integration are access to decent work and language barriers.

• Assistance for settlement and integration reported by respondents is quite commonly Val di Susa San Remo Ventimiglia Triora received, however it does not always match most reported challenges/needs. • In the light of above key findings, local authorities, NGOs and other civil society organizations should invest in further strengthening provision of information and legal Figure 2. Migration status assistance, particularly on rights and obligations for legal stay in Italy and access to n=51 decent work. 31

Profiles 13 This analysis draws from interviews with 45 men and 6 women conducted face-to-face in the regions of Piedmont and Liguria in the north-west of Italy between 18 January 2021 4 2 and 25 February 2021. The respondents were of various nationalities, 12 from Pakistan, 8 1 from Somalia, 6 from Afghanistan, 5 from Nigeria, 3 each from Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Asylum seeker Refugee Irregular / no legal Do not know Temporary resident documents to stay in (with permit / visa) and Bangladesh, 2 each from Iraq and Algeria and 4 from other African countries. All this country

1 Finally, 39 responded that Italy is the end of their journey, 9 said that they have not Figure 4. Are there forms of assistance you still need in Italy?1 reached their destination and 3 did not know. The second part of this snapshot focuses on the needs of the group who expect to stay in the country. Legal assistance 18

None 10 Most respondents received basic assistance, but Job seeking 9 legal assistance and job-seeking support remain a gap Cash assistance 6 Most respondents received basic assistance (respondents were recruited via NGOs). As Psychological support 6

shown in Figure 3, the most common assistance received consist of basic services, such Other 6 as food, shelter, water and clothing. Clothes/shoes/ 5 blankets/sleeping bags

Figure 3. What type of assistance did you receive? Food 5

Food 49 Medical assistance 5

Shelter 44 Shelter 5

Refused Water 42 4

Clothes/shoes/ Communications - phone/ 38 4 blankets/sleeping bags internet access facilities

Medical assistance 34 Washing/bathroom 4

Cash assistance 30 Support in education 3

Legal assistance 26 Support in accommodation 3

Washing/ Safe spaces for women and 23 2 n=51 bathroom facilitites children (multi-select) Communications - 20 Water 2 phone/internet access

Safe spaces for 9 0 5 10 15 20 women and children n=51

Psychological support 5

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 The reported unmet needs in the area of legal assistance could also be linked to a lack of information about processes for access to protection and/or other permits to stay in When asked about unmet needs, one third of respondents mentioned legal assistance, Italy at arrival. As shown in Figure 5, 49% (n=25) of respondents reported that they did followed by job-seeking support. 10 people said they did not require any additional

support. 1 33 respondents mentioned other: these responses were recategorized as job seeking (9), legal assistance (3), education (3) and nothing (10).

2 not receive information about legal processes such as obtaining visa or asylum in Italy at Figure 7. What types of information did you receive in Italy? arrival and 53% (n=27) stated that they would be interested in more information about 27 such processes (see Figure 6) 26 23 23

Figure 5. When you arrived, did you receive information about the 18 17 16 legal process for obtaining a visa or asylum in Italy? 15 13 11 8 26 25 6

1 0 0 0

Yes No n=51 Access to education Access to work Access to healthcare Legal status

I did not get information I got information but it was not useful I got useful information Refused

Figure 6. Would you be interested in more information about legal n=51 status, your rights, and the process for applying for a status in Italy? Focus on respondents planning to settle in Italy

27 6 18 The rest of this snapshot will focus on the specific situation, needs and challenges of respondents who had Italy as their destination (n=24) or decided to remain there for other reasons, like lacking motivation to try and reach their initial intended destination (n=10), Yes Don’t know No n=51 being blocked in Italy because of difficulties in crossing the border (n=3) or lacking the financial means needed to continue the journey.

Reliable and useful information about services, Figure 8. Why is this the end of your journey? rights and obligations I reached my preferred 24 Access to reliable and useful information is a necessary complement to direct assistance destination

I have no more motivation as it allows refugees and migrants to better understand their environment, including their 10 to move on rights and obligations, and become actors in their migration path in Italy. As shown in I cannot move on (because 3 Figure 7, respondents reported gaps in information received. 34 people responded that of border controls) they did not receive any information on access to education or that the information was Refused 1 not useful, 75% (n=38) responded the same about access to work, 47% (n=24) about I have no means 1 n=39 healthcare and 55% (n=28) about legal status. Among respondents who received to move on information, several reported concerns about the usefulness of the information received, 0 5 10 15 20 25 particularly about access to work and legal status, mirroring the result of the previous section about assistance needs.

3 Access to decent work and languages barriers Assistance for integration received by are the main challenges to socio-economic respondents only partially responds to integration challenges When asked about the main challenges they are facing in their socio-economic integration Assistance for settlement and integration received by respondents is significant, however in the country, most respondents mentioned access to decent work and language barriers. it only partially matches most reported challenges. A majority of respondents had received support in accessing Italian health services, livelihood support and assistance with Figure 9. What are the major challenges in Italy? administrative processes. About half of the respondents receive language support and assistance with access to education, as shown in Figure 10. Nonetheless, needs for support Access to 25 decent work with administrative processes remains relatively high (reported by 16 respondents, 40%).

The language 10 In addition, respondents also mentioned support for employment or access to education (31%, n=12) as areas where further support is required, while 25% (n=10) also mentioned Other 9 a need for support with longer-term housing or language (Figure 11).

Administrative 8 procedures Figure 10. What assistance have you received for free to support Access to 7 adequate housing your settlement and integration?

Access to 5 asylum Assistance with access to health 26 services Access to 4 education Livelihoods support 25

Don’t know 3 Assistance with administrative 25 processes Overcoming the 3 stress of my… Language support 21 n=39 None 2 Assistance with access 21 to education Safety 1 Other social and 5 cultural integration… 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Longer-term 5 housing support

None 3 n=39 Other (specify) 2 (multi-select)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

4 Figure 11. What further assistance are you in need of to support your settlement and integration?

Assistance with 16 administrative processes

Support for employment 12

Assistance with access to 12 education

Longer-term housing 10 support

Language support 10

None 7

Livelihoods support 5

Assistance with access to 5 health services

Other 3

Support for family 3 reunification n=51 Other social and cultural 3 integration support

Don’t know 1

0 5 10 15 20

4Mi The Mixed Migration Monitoring Mechanism Initiative (4Mi) is the Mixed Migration Centre’s flagship primary data collection system, an innovative approach that helps fill knowledge gaps, and inform policy and response regarding the nature of mixed migratory movements.

This snapshot is based on a customized survey targeting refugees and migrants in primarily destination countries, and focusing on experiences in the country of interview, which was conducted in Italy in early 2021. Findings derived from the surveyed sample should not be used to make inferences about the total population of refugees and migrants, as the sample is not representative. . For more information on 4Mi tools, data and analysis, go to: www.mixedmigration.org/4mi

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