Italy has long been a destination or a transit country for migrants and asylum seekers, often escaping conflict or deprivation. In 2009, the Italian government introduced stricter immigration policies, which have worsened the situation for migrants, increased stigma and hampered their access to healthcare. Last year Médecins Sans Frontières focused on responding primarily to the medical and humanitarian needs of seasonal migrant workers in southern Italy, and continued to speak out about the difficult living conditions of migrants in order to put pressure on the authorities to improve their situation and increase their access to healthcare.

Over the past seven years, we have set up 35 clinics providing healthcare and psychological care to undocumented migrants in six Italian regions which are gradually being handed over to local health authorities. The clinics were integrated into the country’s national health services and respected the migrants’ wish to be anonymous.

In Puglia and Calabria in 2009, teams carried out more than 700 consultations and distributed hygiene kits and other essential items to seasonal migrant workers. We ran four clinics in the Campania region, assisting more than 1,600 migrants. Between 2003 and 2009 in Lampedusa, a frequent entry point for migrants and refugees, teams provided migrants with medical assistance. However, in 2009 there was a sharp decrease in the number of migrants due to a new agreement between Italian and Libyan governments to reinforce border patrols. As a consequence, Médecins Sans Frontières closed the project.

Médecins Sans Frontières has worked in Italy since 1999.