The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) signed an agreement to strengthen migrant reception in Italy on March 4.
The agreement seeks to improve the System of Reception and Integration (SAI) in Italy.
The SAI is a product of the National Asylum Program (PNA), the first public system to shelter asylum seekers and refugees across Italy. ANCI and the UNHCR launched the program in 2001.
SAI system hosts over 35,000 people, most of whom are refugees
The new agreement is aimed at strengthening the SAI system, which shelters some 35,000 individuals. Most are refugees.
Those hosted by SAI represent 25% of the approximate 138,000 people welcomed by Italy's shelter system.
The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between the cities -- and their commitment to the integration of refugees -- through the implementation of joint programs such as "Common Space" (Spazio Comune), which provides multi-service centers for the integration of refugees.
Signatories satisfied with the agreement
"The Municipalities are the closest point of contact for the communities and play a crucial role, they work as innovation and best practices incubators to support the integration of the refugees in the social fabric of the cities," said Chiara Cardoletti, UNHCR representative for Italy, the Vatican and San Marino.
"With this in mind, ANCI confirms itself as a key partner for the realization of an inclusive and supportive society. Together we can develop strategies to provide tangible responses to the specific needs of the host and refugee communities," she said.