Sicily to Build Migrant Tent City as Island Overwhelmed with Arrivals

The Italian government has begun constructing a tent city to house newly arrived migrants in Sicily as the island’s reception centres are full due to the recent surge in landings.

The tent city is set to be located in a former military area in the town of Vizzini, a part of the Metropolitan City of Catania. A number of populist anti-mass migration parties have slammed the proposals, accusing the government of not consulting with local authorities.

Fireband Giorgia Meloni, leader of the national-conservative Brothers of Italy (FdI), said the tent city is likely to hold hundreds of migrants. {snip}

FdI and populist Senator Matteo Salvini’s League have both sworn to organise sit-ins and flash mobs to protest the tent city over the next few days.

Stefano Candiani, regional secretary for the League in Sicily, stated: “In a land where services and infrastructure for Sicilians are slowing down, it is truly paradoxical that a mega tent city for migrants should be set up in a matter of days.”

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