TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTERSOS ............................................................................................................................................................... 2 2. THE MIGRATION UNIT ...................................................................................................................................... 3 3. ITALY ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 CHILD PROTECTION PROJECTS ......................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 VENTIMIGLIA ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 3.2 COMO .................................................................................................................................................................. 10 3.3 ITALY’S NORTHERN BORDERS REPORT .............................................................................................. 11 3.3 ROME .................................................................................................................................................................. 12 A28 CENTER ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 INTERSOS 24 CENTER .................................................................................................................................... 14 MOBILE TEAM ROME ...................................................................................................................................... 16 3.5 SICILY .................................................................................................................................................................. 18 HEALTH PROJECTS ............................................................................................................................................... 24 3.6 VENTIMIGLIA .................................................................................................................................................. 24 1 3.7 ROME.................................................................................................................................................................. 29 3.8 CROTONE........................................................................................................................................................... 32 3.9 HELPING PEOPLE GET BACK ON THEIR FEET ................................................................................... 35 4. GREECE ................................................................................................................................................................. 37 5. LIBYA ..................................................................................................................................................................... 46 © INTERSOS Front cover: © Luca Troiani, Greece INTERSOS – Organizzazione Umanitaria Onlus INTERSOS.org – [email protected] 1. INTERSOS INTERSOS is a humanitarian non-governmental organization that works all over the world, supporting populations at risk and victims of natural calamities or armed conflicts. INTERSOS is officially recognized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission through ECHO, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other Agencies and Committees of the United Nations. Furthermore, it has an advisory status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Since its foundation in 1992, INTERSOS has grounded its intervention on the values of equality, justice, dignity of human beings, peace, solidarity, respect for diversity, and attention to the weakest. INTERSOS operates in full coherence with the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention of Human Rights. INTERSOS’ mission is to provide immediate response to humanitarian crisis, bringing relief to populations living in areas affected by life-threatening conditions and suffering from hunger and misery. Through its intervention, INTERSOS also intends to lay the foundations for a progressive return to normal life, foster the consolidation of peace processes, create reconstruction and development paths. INTERSOS’ interventions are focused primarily on: - Bringing emergency aid to civilians, privileging the most vulnerable groups: providing essential goods, food, water, health care, protection; - Assisting refugees and internally displaced persons (IDP); - Supporting the growth of local capacity and training; 2 - Reconstructing social infrastructure and restoring public services: hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, water wells and pipelines, shelters; - Promoting the return to dialogue, social harmony and reconciliation. INTERSOS operates since many years in several countries located in Europe, Africa, Central America, Asia and Middle East. Currently, it is implementing humanitarian aid projects in 15 countries: Italy, Greece, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mauritania. In 2017, INTERSOS managed humanitarian projects for a total of EUR 65.250.000,001. INTERSOS is constantly concerned with remaining fully independent and autonomous in its strategic and operative decisions. It is therefore attentive to the diversification of the financial resources necessary to reach its humanitarian goals. Amongst the international donors, it chooses the ones who respect its neutrality and autonomy. A part of the committed resources comes from individual donations, associations, organizations, solidarity groups, foundations and enterprises. Nevertheless, the majority of funds come from the United Nations, Italian Government, Regions and Italian Municipalities and other Governments. 1This value is unofficial since 2017 Official Financial Report will be approved in the coming months. INTERSOS – Organizzazione Umanitaria Onlus INTERSOS.org – [email protected] 2. THE MIGRATION UNIT 3 (1st Edition “Olimpiadi Antirazziste”, Palermo, 3rd June 2017) In 2011, in light of the increasing number of arrivals of refugees and migrants to Europe via the Mediterranean, INTERSOS decided to establish a specific Migration Unit (M.U.) within its operational structure, responsible for the coordination of the humanitarian aid projects targeting migrants and refugees in Italy. The institutionalization of the M.U. as a separate section in INTERSOS’ Organizational Structure with respect to the Programs Unit is a noticeable sign of the organization’s dedication to tackling migration, which is perceived as naturally linked to humanitarian interventions but at the same time different in many aspects. INTERSOS’ commitment grew over the years, and in 2017 it included projects in Italy, Greece and Serbia. INTERSOS’ mission in Serbia has been now closed after several years of operations. In 2018, INTERSOS in partnership with UNICEF will start a child protection program focusing on initiatives aimed at addressing the protection risks faced by vulnerable children in Libya. INTERSOS – Organizzazione Umanitaria Onlus INTERSOS.org – [email protected] 3. ITALY 4 INTERSOS – Organizzazione Umanitaria Onlus INTERSOS.org – [email protected] CHILD PROTECTION PROJECTS 3.1 VENTIMIGLIA In November 2016, INTERSOS and UNICEF signed a partnership agreement in order to start implementing activities in 4 main geographical areas of Italy: Sicily, Crotone (Calabria), Rome and Ventimiglia/Como. The intervention was aimed at strengthening the protection of minors and adolescents, in particular those unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) arriving in the Sicilian coasts, and at harmonizing child protection standards for migrant children from first reception to integration. 5 THE CONTEXT In November 2015, in response to the terrorist attacks in Paris, France proclaimed a state of emergency and reintroduced tough controls on its borders, suspending in this way the application of Schengen “Border Code” provisions. As a consequence, crossing the French border has become almost impossible for migrants coming from Italy. However, despite the closure of the border, Ventimiglia still remains a transit area for migrants that intend to continue their journey to other European countries. INTERSOS – Organizzazione Umanitaria Onlus INTERSOS.org – [email protected] CHILD PROTECTION UNIT On the 1st of February 2017, INTERSOS, in partnership with UNICEF, established in Ventimiglia a Child Protection Unit (CPU) composed of a legal expert and a cultural mediator. The Unit is active in Roya governmental transit Camp, in the open-air informal settlement along the banks of the river Roya, and at the railway station. In addition, INTERSOS CPU is providing support to Caritas’ office in Ventimiglia, and to an Info point managed by activists. In the beginning it was also operative in Saint Anthony Parish church - an informal reception center for UASC, unaccompanied women and families - that was forced by local authorities to end its reception activities on August 15th 2017. In summertime, up to 500 migrants founded “shelter” along the banks of the river Roya, waiting there before trying to cross the Italy-France border. The percentage