Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) – In the world there are at least 175 million migrants according to a census taken by the United Nations Organisation in 2000. Surprisingly there are more migrants in developing countries (98.678.000 equal to 56,3%) than in developed countries (76.441.000 equal to 43,7%). However the impact of immigrants on the local population is much higher in rich countries, 8,9% compared to 1,9%. In the world 2,4 billion people live on an average of 6 dollars a day: more than half of these on less that one dollar. It is rarely free choice which pushes a person to move to another country, as Pope John Paul II has often said, usually people flee from living conditions which have become unbearable. This is stated in “Immigration Statistics Dossier 2003” presented yesterday to the press in Rome. Caritas Italy, Fondazione Migrantes and Caritas Roma produced this 13th report on migration.
According to the Italian Interior Ministry, at the end of 2002 the number of persons with residence permits was 1.512.324, an increase 10,8% compared to the previous year. With regard to the country of origin, first place goes to Morocco (11,4% of the total) Albania is almost equal with (11,2%), followed by Rumania, the Philippines and China. At the continental level, non-European Union persons prevail (32,3%) over Africans (26,5%), Asians (18,5%), Americans (11,8%) and EU members (10,2%). It is estimated that among the 1.512.324 non-Italians registered 2002 some 690.523 are Christians (45,7% and about half of them Catholics), 553.007 Muslims (36,6%), 4.203 Jews, 39.416 Hindus, 37.489 Buddhists. With regard to the health situaiton, prejudice against immigrants thought to be carriers of infective and tropical diseases is not confirmed by the main pathologies leading to hospitalisation: breathing difficulties, gastrointestinal infections, skin diseases related to precarious living conditions.
“Presenting this Dossier 2003, Caritas Italy, Fondazione Migrantes and Caritas Rome diocese, reaffirm the consideration that migration today is a fact with which we must learn to live. It is an opportunity not to be wasted – said Caritas Italy’s director Rev. Vittorio Nozza -. We have no ethnic-racial preclusion or prejudice. We accept all measures, including the most advanced technological means, to fight human trafficking and poverty speculation. We work to ensure paths of justice and development in this globalised world which is fragmented in islands of egoism. We are against all fundamentalisms. We consider essential from a juridical point of view, respect for Italian law and widespread action of education to diffused legality. We consider also important from the cultural point of view, respect for the Christian roots of our country and the entire continent of Europe.”
(S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 29/10/2003; lines: 34; words 461)
