'We were abandoned': migrants tell of suffering in Italy's private shelters

[zenitzz]

Hosting a refugee earns landlords €35 a day from the state, but asylum seekers report being left without gas, water and food

The water and gas had been shut off for days when Lessena M and his flatmates, a group of asylum seekers from Ivory Coast who have been living in Naples for more than a year, decided to stage a protest.

They began throwing rubbish bins and an old orange sofa over the balcony of their flat while neighbours gathered in the street to watch. Then the police arrived, seemingly dismayed that the owner of the flat had not yet turned the water back on. Without working plumbing, the stench in the property had become intolerable. Lessena, 34, said even the boy who brought them their food every day in a plastic pouch – always pasta – had stopped coming.

“We were totally abandoned. At that point, we were totally alone,” he said. Soft-spoken Lessena, who survived an acid attack in Ivory Coast that scarred his left shoulder and neck, said he had been to the police several times to file formal complaints, because the owners of his building, who are being paid by the Italian state to house asylum seekers, were not reachable.

Within days of the protest, which was captured last month in a film for the Guardian by Italian journalists, the asylum seekers were moved.

Lessena is one of an estimated 99,000 migrants being hosted in Italy this year at a cost of about €1.16bn, double what it cost last year. The job of taking care of them has largely been outsourced to charities, individuals, companies and cooperatives across Italy. While many are housed in huge reception centres, such as Europe’s largest in Mineo, Sicily, others are sent to smaller properties, where landlords, hotel managers and restaurant proprietors have turned their available space into housing. It is a lucrative business: owners of shelters for asylum seekers are paid €35 a day for every adult they house. A person running a shelter receives €1.28m if they house 100 people for a year.

On paper, asylum seekers are legally entitled to certain benefits to help them stay safe and healthy and even assimilate into Italian society: food and medical attention, psychological support and €2.50 per day. Rightwing politicians, led by the Northern League’s Matteo Salvini, habitually portray asylum seekers as living cushy lives on the dole.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/26/italy-migrant-shelters-refugees-naples-landlords

[saddampbuh]

bloody parasites should go back to their own countries

[croato]

We had brutal war at Croatia back in 1990-1996 but our womans and childrens did not run to other continents and our mans fought war and won. I suggest those vandals and sub humans to go back where they belong. PPL who run when their motherland is attacked are not humans.

[bryant.coleman]

This is insane. €35 for a single day? So hosting a single refugee is going to cost the government at least €12,775 per year. Now imagine how much it is going to cost, to house 5 million of them (latest estimates from the EU, for "refugee" arrivals by 2016 end). And what will happen if they bring their families along? And who is going to pay this bill? The hard working tax payers in these countries, off course.

[manis]

This is insane. €35 for a single day? So hosting a single refugee is going to cost the government at least €12,775 per year. Now imagine how much it is going to cost, to house 5 million of them (latest estimates from the EU, for "refugee" arrivals by 2016 end). And what will happen if they bring their families along? And who is going to pay this bill? The hard working tax payers in these countries, off course.

These are direct costs that you are talking about.
Apart from this, there are other hidden costs, including subsidized public amenities.

[croato]

Also, they bring us crime, AIDS, we will pay for their medical care, etc etc. It just sucks, Europe have enough problems with out those leaches. It is just insane.

[manis]

Also, they bring us crime, AIDS, we will pay for their medical care, etc etc. It just sucks, Europe have enough problems with out those leaches. It is just insane.

The alternative is to be heartless like the gulf nations.
Even that may not be possible because they are signatories to the 1951 Refugee Convention.

[bryant.coleman]

The alternative is to be heartless like the gulf nations.
Even that may not be possible because they are signatories to the 1951 Refugee Convention.

No. There is another alternative as well. That is to help "genuine" refugees to find asylum, rather than allowing the hoards of illegal economic immigrants to swamp Europe. There are a large number of African nations, which are stable and peaceful. If the Europeans really want to help genuine refugees, then they can sponsor the refugees to settle down in these nations, rather than encouraging them to immigrate to Europe.

[Ernstew]

In Greece, Italy, Macedonia,Serbia are illegal hostels for immigrants with prices 30-40 e per night...But they should stay in their country to deffend it from ISIS. Ok they come to Europe with tears we don't have nothing,we are poor, we want new life..they had extra life in Syria and should defend it. All refugees from countries where is war or terrorism should stay there and fight..

[salinizm]

Hosting a refugee earns landlords €35 a day from the state, but asylum seekers report being left without gas, water and food

The water and gas had been shut off for days when Lessena M and his flatmates, a group of asylum seekers from Ivory Coast who have been living in Naples for more than a year, decided to stage a protest.

They began throwing rubbish bins and an old orange sofa over the balcony of their flat while neighbours gathered in the street to watch. Then the police arrived, seemingly dismayed that the owner of the flat had not yet turned the water back on. Without working plumbing, the stench in the property had become intolerable. Lessena, 34, said even the boy who brought them their food every day in a plastic pouch – always pasta – had stopped coming.

“We were totally abandoned. At that point, we were totally alone,” he said. Soft-spoken Lessena, who survived an acid attack in Ivory Coast that scarred his left shoulder and neck, said he had been to the police several times to file formal complaints, because the owners of his building, who are being paid by the Italian state to house asylum seekers, were not reachable.

Within days of the protest, which was captured last month in a film for the Guardian by Italian journalists, the asylum seekers were moved.

Lessena is one of an estimated 99,000 migrants being hosted in Italy this year at a cost of about €1.16bn, double what it cost last year. The job of taking care of them has largely been outsourced to charities, individuals, companies and cooperatives across Italy. While many are housed in huge reception centres, such as Europe’s largest in Mineo, Sicily, others are sent to smaller properties, where landlords, hotel managers and restaurant proprietors have turned their available space into housing. It is a lucrative business: owners of shelters for asylum seekers are paid €35 a day for every adult they house. A person running a shelter receives €1.28m if they house 100 people for a year.

On paper, asylum seekers are legally entitled to certain benefits to help them stay safe and healthy and even assimilate into Italian society: food and medical attention, psychological support and €2.50 per day. Rightwing politicians, led by the Northern League’s Matteo Salvini, habitually portray asylum seekers as living cushy lives on the dole.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/26/italy-migrant-shelters-refugees-naples-landlords

then, go back to your country.. dont ruin our western countiries..

[bizerinm]

They came with intention to destroy and to  make Europe be a muslim Europe. Now complaining on a hotel?!! Should be happy that have a place to sleep...And instead of wasting so much funds for them they should support their people who have no job to start with job and private business..