RASC News Agency: The Vatican has announced a new agreement between the Sant’Egidio Community and various Italian ministries and organizations to facilitate the resettlement of 700 Afghanistani refugees in Italy. Of this number, 338 refugees have already been granted entry, while an additional 362 are expected to arrive by July 2025 under the terms of the new accord. According to a report published by Vatican News on Tuesday, April 8, the agreement is part of the “Humanitarian Corridor” program, enabling the safe and legal relocation of hundreds of vulnerable Afghanistani nationals who have remained in limbo since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.
The agreement was officially signed on Monday, April 7, at the Italian Ministry of the Interior. The signatories included representatives from the Sant’Egidio Community, the Italian government, and several international organizations and civil society groups based in Italy. Marco Impagliazzo, President of the Sant’Egidio Community, described the initiative as “a beacon of hope” for Afghanistani refugees who were forced to flee Kabul under dire circumstances and have since been neglected by much of the international community. “This agreement reflects our unwavering commitment to human dignity and our moral responsibility to protect the most vulnerable,” he added.
With the implementation of this latest phase, the total number of refugees admitted to Europe under the humanitarian corridor initiative will rise to 8,200. The Vatican noted that the entire project is being financed through domestic resources and has received broad public support from the Italian populace. Impagliazzo further emphasized the urgency of such humanitarian programs at a time when global conflicts and international tensions are on the rise. “Facilitating the safe passage of Afghanistani refugees is not only a humanitarian imperative but also a reaffirmation of the values upon which Europe was built,” he stated.
This agreement builds upon a previous accord signed in November 2021, under which 812 Afghanistani nationals were successfully resettled in Italy.
