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Source: French Humanitarian Corridors
THE HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS IS AN INNOVATIVE PROJECT FOR EUROPE-------------------------------------------
After the year 2016, which has experienced the largest number of deaths in the Mediterranean Sea with more than 5,000 victims, it is still nearly 3800 victims enumerated since 2017 until today who lost their lives during the crossings. It is clear that the wish of the European Council that "no one dies at sea" (extraordinary meeting of 23 April 2015) has not been realized. The Council declared: "The situation in the Mediterranean is dramatic. The European Union will implement, in cooperation with the countries of origin and transit, all the means at its disposal to prevent further loss of life at sea and to address the root causes of human distress to which we are are confronted. Our immediate priority is to ensure that no one dies at sea. " The Humanitarian Corridors Project is a citizens', ecumenical and European initiative that aims to contribute to the European agenda on migration. It is a concrete and reproducible implementation of what the European Commission was calling for on May 13, 2015 stating that "Member States should use all the other legal possibilities open to those in need of protection, including private / non-governmental sponsorship and residence permits for humanitarian reasons as well as provisions relating to family reunion ".
HOW DOES THE HUMANITARIAN CORRIDOR WORK ?----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Humanitarian corridors are governed by a memorandum of understanding signed on March 14, 2017 at the Elysee
presence of the President of the French Republic François Hollande by:
- the Ministry of the Interior,
- the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
- the Community of Sant'Egidio at the initiative of the project, - the Protestant Federation of France,
- the Protestant Mutual Aid Federation,
- the Conference of Bishops of France,
- Catholic Relief - Caritas France.
The project will allow the reception in France, in good conditions of integration, of people having fled Syria, having found a temporary shelter in Lebanon, and applicants for international protection after the report of their situation by the promoters of the project and the examination of their file by the French authorities. The humanitarian corridors foresee the arrival in our country, in the space of 18 months, of five hundred people (500) and their accompaniment for a full integration and inclusion in France.
The humanitarian corridors are the fruit of an ecumenical collaboration between Catholics and Protestants initiated in Italy:
The Community of Sant'Egidio, the Protestant Federation of France, the Federation of Protestant Mutual Aid, the Conference of Bishops of France, Catholic Relief - Caritas France have chosen to join forces to carry out a high-level humanitarian project. In Italy, the Corridoi umanitari pilot project was launched at the initiative of the Community of Sant'Egidio with the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy and the Waldensian Table by a protocol signed on 15 December 2015 with the Italian Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs. 800 migrants fleeing Syria have already benefited in this context from a safe access route in Europe at the same time as a complete program of integration.----------------------------------------------------
It is a pilot project, the first of its kind in Europe, and its main objectives:
- to avoid refugees traveling on death boats in the Mediterranean Sea;
- to combat the deadly trade of smugglers and traffickers of human beings;
- to grant to people in "vulnerable condition" (for example victims of
persecution, torture or violence, families with children, single women, the elderly, the sick, the disabled) legal entry into French territory as part of an admission for humanitarian reasons;
- to allow to enter France in a safe way for oneself and for all, because the issue of visas provides for the necessary controls on the part of the French authorities.
- The organizations that have proposed the project to the French State undertake to provide:
- - accommodation and reception for the appropriate period;
- - economic support for the transfer to France (self-financed project);
- - administrative support for people;
- - support for the integration process in our country.
- Once in France, people are welcomed by the promoters of the project and, in collaboration with other partners, are housed in different houses and structures spread throughout the national territory. There, they are offered an integration into the French social and cultural fabric, through the learning of the French language, the schooling of minors, access to health professionals if necessary and other initiatives.
- Humanitarian action is aimed at all vulnerable people, regardless of their religious or ethnic background.
- The humanitarian admission of refugees - a model for Europe
- Associations proposing this project, through direct contacts in the countries concerned by the project or reports provided by local actors (NGOs, associations, international organizations, churches and ecumenical organizations, etc ...) propose a list of potential beneficiaries chosen from the most
- and strong civic and ecumenical engagement, along with the professionals, from the beginning to the end of the process, are the two important and innovative dimensions of this pilot project to foster the identification and early integration of vulnerable refugees as well as
- that a broad awareness of fraternity in the reception by the civil society.
- Humanitarian corridors are a replicable model for the Schengen States and other ecumenical initiatives are underway in several countries.
- The humanitarian corridors project has received important recognition:
- Here are a few :
- "Humanitarian corridors are a message to Europe to remind that building walls is not the answer to dealing with the migrant crisis. "
- Paolo Gentiloni, Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the arrival of the refugee group on February 29, 2016, Rome, Fumicino airport.
- "A good example of what Europe can do to help migrants and cope with current refugee flows. "
- Nils Muižnieks, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, 2 March 2016.
- "As a concrete sign of commitment to peace and life, I would like to mention the humanitarian corridors for refugees initiative, recently launched in Italy. This pilot project, which unites solidarity and security, helps people fleeing war and violence, like the hundred refugees already transferred to Italy, including sick children, people with disabilities, widows of war with their children and the elderly. I am also pleased because this initiative is ecumenical, and is supported by the Community of Sant'Egidio, the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy, the Waldensian and Methodist Churches. " Source : Community St Egidio
