Italian artist says the way Europe helping Syrians is 'Shameful' as refugee crisis protracts

Writing by Ethar Abdulhaq

Istanbul (Zaman Al Wasl)- The bright side Syrian refugee crisis has showed can be the overwhelming solidarity of human rights advocates, intellectuals, artists and average people in many European states, Syrian migrants voiced admiration.

Mattia Campo Dall’Orto, an Italian artist and researcher, is one of those who share Syrian people their hope in better life that enable them to escape a vicious war in which 250-300,000 people died and more than 4 million fled the country.

The Italian-based researcher, who works with a group of Italian volunteers concerned with migrants' human rights, and with the promotion of migrants' social integration, had visited Istanbul last week in a work trip aims to stand on the deteriorating conditions of Syrian refugees.

Dall’Orto, in an interview with Zaman Al Wasl, said Syrian migrants will find their breakthrough in Europe; as well as they will contribute in the growth and development of the EU states. Nonetheless he criticizes the way Europe deals with refugee crisis, dubbing it 'Shameful'.

For him, Syrian refugees crisis is a long-term one which has no solution in the foreseeable future.

Just over 170,000 migrants and refugees from Africa, the Middle East and south Asia landed at his country’s southern ports in 2014 after being rescued in the Mediterranean, while the total for 2015 has already topped 104,000.

Also, over 600,000 migrants and refugees, mostly from war-torn Syria, have landed in Greece this year, heading Europe from Turkey.

 Dall’Orto highlights more issues in the following interview:

 

Would you introduce yourself to our readers?

I am “Mattia Campo Dall'Orto” an Italian independent artist and cultural agent, active in volunteering since 1997.

I started working with refugees in 2010, running creative workshops for asylum seekers. I am worried by the emerging extremist/xenophobic tendencies. For this reason I am interested in citizens' self organization to front social conflicts related to migration.

In Italy, I currently coordinate a project to study and prevent discrimination against volunteers helping migrants. I recently travelled across Serbia, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey to discover more about these topics.

 

What is your assessment of the general refugee’s situation, especially the Syrian one?

Circumstances are evolving quickly and information is confused, incomplete or misleading. That's why I am deeply interested in being more aware about the phenomenon.

Unfortunately, by the news I have, I am quite skeptical about the conflict in Syria: it seems it will not end soon. This mainly means more suffering for Syrian people and makes me upset.

 What is the role of Italian government in the face of the refugee crisis, and do you see it commensurate with the scale of the crisis on the one hand, and European Union standards on the other hand?

The escalating crisis demonstrated the weakness of Italy and all EU: countries were not able to set/agree to a common efficient plan to manage the situation. A clumsy political approach, lack of a coordinated strategy and single national initiatives, show that EU was not ready cope with the crisis,  and still unprepared, even if the refugee climax was predictable.

The respect of human rights standards dropped: many leaders and part of civil society still tolerate a shameful and inefficient refugee assistance system. To react to that and make refugees' rights respected, leaders should take "unpopular" political decisions; they must be ready to face an immediate negative reaction by opposition. I mean to be brave. Maybe too brave.

What makes this political status more embarrassing is the faint position of EU at international level towards bloody conflicts as the one in Syria. This may lead to suppose that there is a will to keep EU subordinated, and probably many European stakeholders "gladly" accept that.

The extent to which non-profit organizations and volunteer initiatives play a role in mitigating the effects of the refugee crisis? And what are the most prominent of these initiatives?

 Governments often operate (or try to operate) in an emergency status. Due to their slow process of analysis and problem solving, official reactions are too slow, inadequate... anyway far from real/current needs. Local communities of citizens supporting refugees are fast and active. In all the countries I visited, they are the backbone of assistance system.

If volunteers would step back and stop, the system would crash immediately: their support is essential. This common feeling of solidarity and friendship is a message of brotherhood. Volunteers must be proud of their actions, even if their activity is often frustrating and stressful. I met precious people, with extremely different background: I am honored to see them working with passion and humanity.

NGOs and non-profit organizations frequently represent a natural platform for volunteering: these subjects offer a good mean of coordination, visibility and pressure on Public Institutions.

 

How Italians see the Syrian crisis in general and refugees in particular?

The Italian public opinion is deeply influenced by the mass media. Excluding professionals or activists, the Syrian conflict remains an issue as long as it is included in the media's agenda. Leaders and citizens are more interested in the refugee presence on national territory.

Syrians are perceived as close to Western models; of course this is based on a truth that most Syrian, from main cities, have a high education level, similar to EU standards.

Moreover, Syrians are very respectful. This is how European volunteers perceive most of refugees coming from Syria.

Across Europe, there is often insistence on hiring refugee issue in partisan and political competition, what is the image of this hiring in Italy? And what is the degree of its intensity?

As I told before, leaders should take unpopular decisions to begin to solve the refugee crisis. European resources must be shared as well as human rights: maybe this is the only way to establish a balance and prevent more problems. And this, of course, may result "unpopular" mainly because the long term benefits are related to short time sacrifices. Obviously, leaders are scared of instant vote losses.

Moreover, extremist/xenophobic groups has the opportunity to gain consensus. Confused or even scared by the news and political debates, many EU citizens now tolerate a new wave of radical ideologies.

 

Is it pure coincidence that anti-refugees are themselves supporters of Bashar al-Assad?

Anti-refugees in Italy and Europe are nationalists; Bashar al-Assad is out of the public debate.

Usually, anti-refugees are not aware of conflicts going on in other countries: they cannot imagine the level of violence, danger and suffering. These persons are used by extremist groups with the pretext to defend the national interests. Their fears might be used to carry out aggressive actions and political pressures.

 

 Do you think that the issue of Syrian asylum will be resolved on their own, as soon as the war stops in Syria?

The current conflict is not a "Syrian affair". Too many players are involved in this dirty game, and these players don’t want to let Syrian people solve the problem by themselves. I don't want to look pessimist, but personally I believe that peace in Syria is far.  Since it is perceived as a safe place where civil rights are respected, Europe will deal with refugee issue for a long time.

I am sure Syrian people will find their place in Europe and contribute to the cultural and economical development of the area. This will not be easy. Especially for the Europeans who are unable to accept changes.

 

From your point of view as a researcher and activist in refugee affairs, do you see that the merger condition contrasts with the refugee's keenness on maintaining their distinctive cultural identity?

Cultures are developing when people move, fight, meet or live together. This is a challenge for Europeans as well for refugees asking asylum in EU. Of course this crisis represents a breakdown on many levels: religious beliefs, traditional habits, national (or sub national) identities. Mutual influences are inevitable: that's the result of human relations and probably a way to respect each other.