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© Maurizio Debanne/MSF
28 Apr 22 10 May 22

MSF launches response in Italy for refugees from Ukraine

April 28th, 2022- People who have fled the war in Ukraine for Italy are receiving support from international medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). MSF teams in the cities of Milan, Rome, Trieste and Naples are providing psychological support to the refugees and helping them orientate themselves in an unfamiliar context in order to access healthcare and social services. MSF’s response involves supporting the work of local organisations already engaged in receiving refugees and will be carried out in coordination with national authorities. 

MSF logistics teams are preparing medical supplies for Ukraine and neighboring countries. (March, 2022).

Forced to leave everything

"Among the thousands of people who have arrived in Italy after fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, there are children and adults who have experienced terrible loss and who have been forced to leave everything behind to reach safety,” says Sara Radighieri, MSF deputy medical coordinator in Italy.

MSF’s fifth medical train referral arrived Lviv 12 April. (April, 2022).

"Our goal is to reduce the physical and psychological consequences of the traumatic events they have experienced. We will offer psychological support and socio-health assistance in some of the Italian cities receiving the largest numbers of refugees." 

"Among the thousands of people who have arrived in Italy after fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, there are children and adults who have experienced terrible loss and who have been forced to leave everything behind to reach safety”

[sara radighieri][msf deputy medical coordinator, italy]

Health promotion activities

MSF’s teams of psychologists, nurses and intercultural mediators are carrying out health promotion activities and work to identify people suffering from specific vulnerabilities and medical needs, in reception centres, in gathering places, in the homes of families hosting refugees and elsewhere in the communities. This response comes alongside MSF’s current activities providing assistance and orientation for migrants arriving in Italy from other countries.  

Makeshift beds lining the platform in one of Kharkiv's Metro stations in Ukraine. (April, 2022).

"Along with our regular projects for refugees, migrants and asylum seekers living in or transiting through Italy from other countries, we have found it necessary to respond in support of people fleeing the war in Ukraine,” says Marco Bertotto, MSF programs director in Italy.

Someone waits in front of MSF's mobile clinic, in a metro station in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (April, 2022).

“Even if our response is on a small scale, we want to offer support and assistance to all those in need. So far, we have seen heartwarming solidarity from institutions and civil society towards people fleeing Ukraine. It is crucial that this same generosity is extended to all people seeking assistance and protection in our country."

"So far, we have seen heartwarming solidarity from institutions and civil society towards people fleeing Ukraine. It is crucial that this same generosity is extended to all people seeking assistance and protection in our country"

[marco bertotto][msf programs director in italy]

Support and assistance

MSF in Italy will continue to provide medical assistance and support to access healthcare for anyone arriving in the country. After 20 years of activities including assistance to people arriving by sea and in reception centres and informal settlements, MSF is currently running a health project in Rome for migrant women in collaboration with local health authorities. In Palermo, Sicily, MSF is running a project for the rehabilitation of survivors of intentional violence and torture, in collaboration with local authorities. MSF is also engaged in search and rescue activities in the Mediterranean Sea aboard its vessel Geo Barents.