UNHCR participated in the relocation of approximately 190 asylum seekers to reception facilities in various Italian regions. The group had found temporary shelter in Trieste's Old Port in recent weeks. The initiative is promoted by the Ministry of the Interior and organised in coordination with the Prefecture of Trieste, the Police Headquarters and local health and social services. Prior to the assignment to another region, information provision, registration and health screening are undertaken to ensure proper care and protect the rights of asylum seekers.
UNHCR support in relocation aims to facilitate dignified and safe reception in facilities that guarantee adequate material conditions and provide essential services, such as healthcare, social and psychological support, linguistic and cultural mediation, and timely access to international protection procedures. In light of recent events that resulted in the deaths of several asylum seekers who were living outdoors, UNHCR reiterates the importance of strengthening local reception responses for people in transit in Trieste, who often arrive in vulnerable conditions, and continuing to promote an equitable distribution of responsibilities at the national level, to ensure respect for fundamental rights and reduce the risk of precariousness and marginalisation.