Summary of revisions made to the emergency plan of action:
In the first three months of the 2016, the migration flows grew 44 per cent compared to the same period in 2015. This caused an increase of arrivals in 2016 and also a change in the migration routes used last year.
Through this operations update, the Italian Red Cross needs to extend the timeframe of the original Plan of Action for 2 months, with no change in the budget, for two main reasons,
The changes that occurred at European level, after the release of the European Agenda on Migration and the introduction of the hotspot approach, have guided the Italian Red Cross to cope with new emerging vulnerabilities, not included in the Emergency Plan of Action. The hotspot approach resulted in the emerging of new vulnerabilities including migrants that have no access to the reception network and have difficulties accessing local services. In order to tackle these challenges, the Italian Red Cross established Safe Points, which are help desks to give basic assistance, health care, psychosocial support, Restoring Family Link (RFL) services and counseling to migrant people in need. In the Safe Points non-food items are available for distribution.
In light of the forthcoming increase in migration flow by sea, due to the upcoming better weather conditions, and in the scenario of a change in migratory routes, due to the closure of the Balkan route, the Italian RC decided to extend the operation to insure sustainability to the actions, and get prepared to a possible evolving needs.
A. Situation analysis
Description of the situation
In 2015, over half a million people, the majority of them refugees, crossed the Mediterranean Sea in search of safety in Europe. European countries have been struggling to deal with this influx of refugees and migrants. Since the beginning of the year, more than 586,000 refugees and migrants arrived to Europe by the Mediterranean sea. Italy has been witnessing a slight increase in the number of migrants since the beginning of 2015. The number of migrants arriving on Italy shores soared by 3.1 per cent over the first nine months of 2015 compared with the same period of last year. Italy is one of the primary entry points for migrants entering Europe, and is considered to be a transit country for the migrants to reach other destinations in northern Europe. The main route remains to be the southern Italy (especially Sicily) as first entry points from the North Africa coasts. In 2015, according to the UNHCR,153,842 arrivals arrived in Italy by boats mainly from North African countries. In 2016, 13,825 people have arrived in Italy by sea.
The evolution of the political context, inside and outside Europe, and the decisions taken at the European level, included the European Agenda on Migration which led the Italian government to release, on 28 September 2015, the Italian Roadmap for 2015 which introduced the hotspots, led to the emergence of new vulnerabilities to which the Italian Red Cross has had to address.
The hotspot approach resulted in the emerging of new vulnerabilities with migrants that have no access to the reception network and have difficulties accessing local services. In order to tackle these challenges, the Italian Red Cross established Safe Points, which are help desks to give basic assistance, health care, psychosocial support, Restoring Family Link (RFL) services and counseling to migrant people in need. The Safe Points are located in Catania1 and Trapani2 and, until up to 29 February 2016, have assisted around 108 people.
The Italian Red Cross plans to establish a new Safe Point in Taranto (Puglia), due to the next opening of the hotspot, and in Agrigento. Additionally, with the upcoming spring season and favorable weather conditions the migration flow is expected to increase, therefore the National Society will expand the Safe Point approach in the regions with hotspots and will strengthen the capacities of the local branch in Lampedusa.
Moreover, due to the current situation of the closing of the borders on the Balkan route, changes in the migratory route are expected where migrants might chose alternate ways to reach northern Europe through Italy. The scenario, which we are expecting, is the emergence of a migratory flow through the Adriatic Sea, from Greece, via Albania, to the eastern coast of Italy. Our National Society needs to be prepared in case of such scenario.
The operation timeframe extension of the Emergency Plan of Action, will help the Italian Red Cross to cope with the emerging vulnerabilities and to give sustainability to the response actions.