In Giugliano the perverse Game of the Goose evictions continue, perpetuated against 450 Roma people who have been present on the territory for over 30 years
For over 30 years, 450 Roma people of Bosnian origin, 50% of whom are minors, live in conditions of extreme housing emergency in the Municipality of Giuliano (NA).
Over the past six years, they have been victims of repeated forced evictions without interruption, despite being an integral part of the local community.
In 2013 they were evicted from a former settlement and were relocated to the slum called “Masseria dal Pozzo”, in an area adjacent to a toxic waste dump.
Three years later, in 2016, the same community was evicted again and, having no other place to go, it was relocated on the land of a former fireworks factory in extreme hygienic-sanitary conditions on Via del Viaticale. With the tacit approval of local authorities.
Following another three years, today, once again in total disregard for fundamental human rights, 450 people have been the victim of a further forced eviction.
Giugliano – Via del Viaticale – 10 May 2019 the 450 Roma people are victims of yet another forced eviction
On 5 April 2019, with Decree of the Mayor no. 29 their removal was ordered for reasons of salubrity and public health without any real planning.
In organizing the eviction, only on written paper was the accompaniment by “Municipal Social Services for housing relocation” designated.
On the morning of 10 May 2019, law enforcement agencies activated forced removal of the families from the Via del Viaticale settlement. According to the numerous testimonies collected, both prior to and during the evacuation operations, the Roma people were verbally intimated to leave the Giugliano area otherwise the penalty of cancellation of registry data and the removal of minors.
Having no other possibility and constantly supervised by the Police, the Roma community on Via del Viaticale divided between the territory of the Municipalities of Villa Literno and Castel Volturno. From the latter the community was removed only after a few hours. Thus the 450 Roma people reunited in the evening of the same day in an abandoned area in the Giugliano industrial zone.
Human rights have been violated and the people concerned are in danger
The new location is totally inadequate and the Municipality, guilty of having created a situation of hardship and danger for part of its citizenship – the 450 Roma reside in the Municipality of Giuliano – even more seriously the intervention of Decree of the Mayor no. 29 of 5 April 2019 did not provide any essential support and / or service.
The 73 families on Giugliano, have no shelter, are forced to sleep in cars or outdoors, despite the difficult weather conditions; they have no electricity, no drinking water and no sanitary facilities.
There are about 50 minors aged between 0 and 6 years who need powdered milk, diapers and baby food.
The 105 children attending compulsory education were forced to interrupt their school attendance.
A dozen are pregnant women and some of the elderly are totally lacking minimal assistance.
For this we DEMAND
Following the serious and repeated violations of human rights encountered during and after the forced eviction actions on 10 May, that the Municipality, the Region and the Civil Protection intervene to prevent the very serious and imminent risk to which the 73 families encamped on Giugliano are subjected due to the absence of minimum services, by activating with maximum urgency and without further delay, measures aimed at offering adequate and dignified housing solutions for all people, guaranteeing them access to basic services and the restoring of school attendance for children in school age.
SIGN THE APPEAL
In Giuliano we demand to respect fundamental rights!
Dear Sirs,
all people should enjoy the right to housing and no one should be deprived of this fundamental right.
I am writing to express concern regarding the situation of the 450 Roma people of Bosnian origin who were victims of yet another forced eviction against them on 10 May.
In the actions organized by the Municipality of Giuliano for overcoming the settlement, various criticalities have been verified resulting in the failure of the intervention of the institutions.
It seems profoundly unfair that the responsibility for this failure is entirely borne by the Roma families who have been severely affected by forced eviction.
The discrimination suffered by the Roma community on Via del Viaticale for years must be overcome through the effective application of inclusive measures, which place the persons themselves and the respect for fundamental rights at the center of attention.
For this reason I ask that following the serious and repeated violations of human rights encountered during and after the forced eviction actions on 10 May, the Municipality, the Region and the Civil Protection intervene to prevent the very serious and imminent risk to which the 73 families allocated in the abandoned area of the Giugliano industrial zone are subject due to the absence of minimum services.
I ask, activating with maximum urgency and without further delay, measures aimed at offering adequate and dignified housing solutions for all the persons, guaranteeing them access to basic services and the restoring of school attendance for school-age children.
Kind regards