(31 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shengjin, Albania – 25 July 2024
1. Aerial of airport and migration facility under construction
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Llazar Semini, The Associated Press: ++STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT AND PARTIALLY OVERLAID BY SHOTS 3 TO 12++
"On August 1st Italy will open two centers in Albania to host some 3,000 asylum-seekers that will be rescued from international waters each month. One will be just behind me at the port of Shengjin, while the other will be at the airbase in Gjader, 20 kilometers (12 miles) to the east. Both centers will be run by Italy and Albania will provide only outside security. Both countries signed a five year deal in November. Still, sending the asylum-seekers to a non EU member country like Albania is very controversial. While the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen endorsed it as an ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking, human rights groups criticize it because they say it compromises the refugees’ protection."
3. Aerial of port with migration centers and coastline
4. Various aerials of facility with gray buildings and green floor
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gjader, Albania – 25 July 2024
5. Aerial of migration center under construction with hills behind it
6. Close of cranes
7. Aerial of migration center under construction with gray buildings and cranes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Central Mediterranean – 6 October 2023
8. Migrants on boat waving and shouting to rescuers
9. Mid of migrants including women and children on boat
10. Close of migrants wearing and receiving life jackets
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shengjin, Albania – 25 July 2024
11. Main entrance of port
12. View of camp from above
STORYLINE:
Migrants rescued at sea while attempting to reach Italy are likely to see themselves transported to Albania from next month while their asylum claims are processed, under a controversial deal in which the small Balkan country will host thousands of asylum-seekers on Italy’s behalf.
The two centers designed to shelter the migrants were billed to be operational as of August 1.
But with just days to go, intensive construction was still underway in one of them, casting doubt on whether it would be ready in time.
Neither Italy nor Albania have indicated when the first migrants are likely to arrive.
The five-year deal, signed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama last November, provides for the sheltering of up to 3,000 migrants picked up by the Italian coast guard in international waters each month.
They will be screened initially on board the ships that have rescued them, before being sent to Albania for additional screening.
The centers will only house adult men, Italy’s ambassador to Albania, Fabrizio Bucci, told The Associated Press.
People deemed to be vulnerable — women, children, the elderly and those who are ill or victims of torture — will be accommodated in Italy.
Families will also not be separated, the ambassador said.
Those who are sent to Albania will retain their right under international and European Union law to apply for asylum in Italy and have their claims processed there.
With each claim taking around a month to process, the number of people sent to Albania could reach 36,000 in a year.
Italy has agreed to welcome those who are granted asylum. Those whose applications are rejected face deportation directly from Albania, the ambassador said.
Those sent to Albania retain their right under international and European Union law to apply for asylum in Italy and have their claims processed there.
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