Psychosocial Notebook - IOM Publications - International ...
Psychosocial Notebook - IOM Publications - International ...
Psychosocial Notebook - IOM Publications - International ...
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<strong>Psychosocial</strong> <strong>Notebook</strong>, Volume 2, October 2001<br />
Here again, these migrants are being forced into a nomadic life, created by<br />
difficulties of integration, lack of employment, racism, and imposed upon<br />
people who had been sedentary their entire lives.<br />
In southern Italy, and more precisely in the Regina Pacis Reception<br />
Centre, people spoke openly about the constraints and restrictions on their<br />
liberty, even describing a sense of imprisonment.<br />
No… we don’t have relationship with Italians because we’re shut in here.<br />
[Ardita]<br />
What else can I tell you? I can only say that I am nervous and that’s all.<br />
When you’re at home you eat, but if you don’t want you don’t eat, you<br />
only eat when you feel like it, sleep when you want… here you’re not<br />
free. It’s not that I don’t like it here, but I’m not free, I can’t do what I<br />
want. [Elidon G.]<br />
I only asked to go back to Kosovo because here is like being in jail, I’m<br />
shut inside, isolated… Yes, I feel like I’m in jail because I’m in here all<br />
the time and that’s it… I can’t go out. [Gentiam]<br />
The shelter is perceived as sort of merciful prison. Those who do not have<br />
residence permits cannot leave the precinct, whereas those who do possess<br />
these documents usually enjoy little socialization outside Regina Pacis.<br />
There are many reasons for their situation, the first of these being the<br />
region’s economic poverty, which does not allow for the easy integration<br />
of these immigrants. Another reason for the restriction is local immigration<br />
law, according to which someone with political refugee status cannot<br />
work, which also hinders the immigrant’s entrance into the local community.<br />
Question: Can you leave the Centre?<br />
Elidon G.: Yes, I can go out but I want to find a job and I can’t because<br />
my documents are for political asylum…<br />
Yes… we can go out when we want, they gave us permission, we also<br />
have the residence permit, but I don’t feel the need anyway. [Ardita]<br />
The few Kosovar Albanians interviewed in southern Italy held residence<br />
permits that they had obtained through a Government Decree. Issued<br />
before the end of the NATO bombings, these permits granted the recipients<br />
the right to “Humanitarian asylum”. Individuals entitled to this status cannot<br />
work, and yet there is no welfare system to help them survive. Their<br />
situation is entirely different from that of the Kosovars living in northern<br />
Italy, who have been able to secure work permits. The difference arises<br />
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