ROME – A flight from Athens to Fiumicino brought 48 refugees to Italy Friday morning, thanks to humanitarian corridors organised by the Community of Sant'Egidio.

 The refugees had spent long periods of time in refugee camps on Greek islands, including the centre in Moria on Lesbos, where Pope Francis recently paid a visit on his trip to Greece and Cyprus.

 The group of displaced people hail from a range of countries, such as Afghanistan, Cameroon, Congo, Iraq, Syria and Somalia. They are all asylum seekers, fleeing wars and unsustainable situations, who have faced dangerous journeys from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, suffering mistreatment, exploitation and violence.

 There are both families and individuals, including some unaccompanied minors, in the number. They have been designated accomodation in 10 Italian regions (Lazio, Basilicata, Friuli, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont, Sicily, Tuscany and Trentino) and, after having spent a period of quarantine in compliance with anti-covid regulations, they will begin the process of integration into the community.

 Minors will be enrolled in local schools, while adults will receive Italian lessons and, once their refugee status has been obtained, be included in the working world.

 The humanitarian corridor system is entirely self-financed and has a widespread reception network. It has facilitated the arrival of 4400 refugees in Europe, of which over 3600 have come to Italy.

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