EUROPE/ITALY - “The Suitcase Tied with a String,” Palermo: situation of locals not far from that of immigrants, in that they often find themselves in similar conditions

Palermo (Agenzia Fides) – The front desk at the Astalli Center in Palermo is one of the few places that offers help to immigrants. “Their problems often involve trying to rent a house,” says one of the Center's employees. “A room costs 300 Euros. I have seen a family of four: husband, wife, and two children – one was a fifteen year old – with only one room with a half-kitchen, half-bath, paying 300 Euros! I think they take advantage of the situation because these people are immigrants. I don't think an Italian family would rent a house like that.”
Giovanni Zinna, Director of the Astalli Center, tells a story from his work: “I am in charge of administering to the influx of immigrants that arrive during the day. For example, right now there is a woman from Bangladesh who has come here because of a health problem and this little child has a stomach problem. Obviously, for now we cannot help her because the doctor only comes in the afternoons and he cannot come until tomorrow. She is also asking us for food. We are trying to give her something, at least. In the meantime, the child keeps crying – perhaps it's because he is hungry. We just received a shipment from the Food Bank, but it is already running out. Many times it hard to find the line between need and opportunism in the people. I think it is a problem that occurs when the least bit of service is offered. It is not easy to tell when a person is really in need and when they are not. Moreover, here in Palermo the situation of the local people is not much different from that of the immigrants, in the sense that the people of Palermo are often amidst very, very similar circumstances.” (Anticipation for the television program “The Suitcase Tied with a String”: 4 episodes of a study on world immigration to be aired on the RAI beginning June 29) (Agenzia Fides 4/6/2009)