Rome: Italy has pledged to accept 700 additional Afghan refugees in the coming months, as part of a newly signed agreement involving several domestic organizations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The deal aims to facilitate the safe and legal relocation of vulnerable Afghan refugees to Italy.
The Catholic humanitarian organization Sant’Egidio has played a leading role in brokering the agreement. Under the terms of the new accord between Sant’Egidio and various Italian ministries and agencies, the 700 Afghan refugees will be brought to Italy via the organization’s "humanitarian corridors" initiative.
According to a report by Vatican News, the agreement is a significant step in supporting Afghan refugees who have endured prolonged hardship. The report cited officials saying that the refugees will be relocated through collaborative efforts involving the Italian government, international partners, and civil society groups.
In a statement, Marco Impagliazzo, president of the Sant’Egidio Community, said the deal brings new hope to Afghans who were forced to flee their country in the aftermath of the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021:
"These are people who had to escape under extreme circumstances, and who were subsequently abandoned by the international community. This agreement is a light of hope for them."
The agreement was signed on April 7 and builds upon a previous accord from November 2021, which facilitated the transfer of 812 Afghan refugees from Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey to Italy. Of those, 338 individuals have already arrived, and an additional 362 are expected by July.
Sant’Egidio reported that the project is being fully funded by the organization itself, with contributions from Italian citizens. To date, the group has helped over 8,200 refugees reach Europe safely through similar humanitarian programs.
The timing of the announcement comes amid growing concerns over the deteriorating conditions faced by Afghan refugees, particularly in Pakistan and Iran. Thousands face arrests, deportations, and confiscation of property, with host countries cracking down on undocumented migrants. Just this Monday, April 8, nearly 6,000 Afghan nationals were expelled from Iran and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, prospects for global resettlement are shrinking. In the United States, the new administration under President Donald Trump has paused Afghan resettlement programs, leaving thousands in limbo, including many who had previously received U.S. entry approvals and travel dates.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed that an Afghan mother and her child recently returned to Kandahar from Islamabad and met with its local office. Pakistan had earlier announced the cancellation of around 800,000 Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), signaling potential mass deportations.
Humanitarian agencies, including the UNHCR and IOM, have repeatedly urged host nations to expand resettlement opportunities and expedite the relocation of registered asylum seekers. They warn that forced returns to Afghanistan may put many lives at serious risk.
By the end of 2023, approximately 298,000 refugees were residing in Italy. In 2021, the country hosted over 165,000 asylum seekers and migrants, including more than 12,000 unaccompanied minors. That same year, Italy received around 3,280 Afghan arrivals, many of whom made the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean Sea. Estimates suggest that the number of Afghan refugees in Italy ranged between 11,121 and 12,096 during that period.
Italy’s southern coast remains a crucial gateway for refugees attempting to reach Europe by sea.
