119 Afghan Refugees to Arrive via Humanitarian Corridors

Rome – A group of 119 Afghan refugees is set to arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport on Thursday 10 July, thanks to the Humanitarian Corridors initiative led by the Community of Sant’Egidio. The refugees, who had been living in precarious conditions in Pakistan since fleeing Afghanistan in 2021, will land at Terminal 5 at 4:00pm on a special flight provided by the French airline “Solidaire.”
The group includes families and individuals many of them children who sought refuge in Islamabad following the Taliban takeover of Kabul nearly four years ago. Their arrival marks another step in an ongoing effort to resettle vulnerable Afghans who, despite escaping conflict, have remained largely overlooked by the international community.
The refugees will be welcomed by members of the Community of Sant’Egidio alongside officials from the Italian Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A press conference will follow the arrival, with speakers including Andrea Riccardi, founder of Sant’Egidio; Rosanna Rabuano, Head of the Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration at the Interior Ministry; and Pierfrancesco Sacco from the Foreign Ministry’s Directorate for Italians Abroad and Migration Policy.
The new arrivals will be supported through a structured integration programme including housing, Italian language education, school enrolment for children, and employment pathways for adults. Many will also be reunited with family members already residing in Italy.
Since its inception, the Humanitarian Corridors programme a partnership between religious organisations, NGOs, and the Italian government has enabled the safe arrival of more than 8,500 refugees across Europe. The initiative is entirely self-funded, relying on donations and a nationwide volunteer network, and is regarded as a successful model that balances humanitarian need with public safety.
A spokesperson from Sant’Egidio described the arrivals as "a sign of hope and commitment at a time when many displaced Afghans remain forgotten by the international community."

PS