Realized with the support of the NatGeo Society’s Covid-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists

Following the emergency linked to the spread of the coronavirus, Italy has started living its worst nightmare since World War II. In the city of Rome, where about 8,000 homeless people live, the most vulnerable are particularly exposed to the risk of infection.

The institutions are not doing much to help this disadvantaged segment of the population. Only charities, NGOs and a few associations are taking care of them, giving information about the Covid-19 virus and the importance of social distancing, providing them with masks, hand sanitizer, self-certifications, food and blankets. Then, to make matters worse, in the last two years, a massive intervention on immigration had profoundly changed the rules for the reception of asylum seekers, those regarding rescue at sea, citizenship and asylum in Italy. Migrants were deprived of humanitarian protection and several accommodation centers were closed, leaving thousands of people with no choice but to find makeshift solutions and live on the streets. After long journeys fleeing from areas of conflict, most of them now face the global pandemic amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment. During this time, social differences matter even more and are indeed magnified. Some people have obtained housing autonomy through job placement, but these are a minority, most people continue to live on the street and work off the books. During Italy’s lockdown, many migrants have been working as food delivery riders and then were evicted from their shelters. Others were found dead in the street, after being abandoned to their fate. In October 2020, Italy’s government has finally revised the “security decree”, softening the anti-immigration policies with the reintroduction of the “humanitarian protection” for asylum seekers. Despite that, many people felt the shameful side of “welcome to Italy” on their skin: the other way to die for Covid, little by little, forgotten by institutions. We are all in the same storm, but not on the same boat.

 

A migrant is seen sleeping on a low wall in the vicinity of the Roma Tiburtina railway station. More than 150 migrants were evicted from their settlement at the station after Italy's reopening, but not having a place to go, they are still forced to sleep on the streets. Rome, Italy, May 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
A migrant is seen sleeping on a low wall in the vicinity of the Roma Tiburtina railway station. More than 150 migrants were evicted from their settlement at the station after Italy’s reopening, but not having a place to go, they are still forced to sleep on the streets. Rome, Italy, May 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
37-year-old Valentina Lanzafame looking to herself in a rearview mirror after putting on the lipstick. Other migrants and Italian homeless like Valentina are living near the Aurelian Walls, in the vicinity of the Termini station during Italy's lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
37-year-old Valentina Lanzafame looking to herself in a rearview mirror after putting on the lipstick. Other migrants and Italian homeless like Valentina are living near the Aurelian Walls, in the vicinity of the Termini station during Italy’s lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
23-year-old Moroccan migrant Charaf Ait Haba, portrayed in the makeshift shelter where he currently lives with other 4 people, inside an area that has been fenced due to the process of securing and restoration started in 2019 and stopped following the pandemic outbreak. Despite the danger of collapse, many homeless currently live near the Aurelian Walls, in the vicinity of the Termini station, during Italy's lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
23-year-old Moroccan migrant Charaf Ait Haba, portrayed in the makeshift shelter where he currently lives with other 4 people, inside an area that has been fenced due to the process of securing and restoration started in 2019 and stopped following the pandemic outbreak. Despite the danger of collapse, many homeless currently live near the Aurelian Walls, in the vicinity of the Termini station, during Italy’s lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
A migrant walking through a tunnel that links via Giolitti and via Marsala, where many homeless have found shelter, in the vicinity of the Roma Termini railway station. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
A migrant walking through a tunnel that links via Giolitti and via Marsala, where many homeless have found shelter, in the vicinity of the Roma Termini railway station. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
A man is seen praying in front of the garbage bags near which the migrants who are forced to live on the street currently sleep while the rest of the population stays at home to stop the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, March 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
A man is seen praying in front of the garbage bags near which the migrants who are forced to live on the street currently sleep while the rest of the population stays at home to stop the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, March 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
23-year-old Dani Hrustic is seen during a free medical screening with Doctor Antonella inside the INTERSOS mobile unit arrived at the Opera Don Calabria Institute in the Primavalle district. Dani is originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina but he was abandoned by his family in Italy as a kid and has been living in the street for the past 7 years. After the coronavirus outbreak he lost his job as dishwasher. Doctor Antonella measured Dani’s body temperature and blood oxygenation, explaining the coronavirus prevention measures and collecting also his personal information to help him get registered by the social work in order to give him access to free meals and more assistance. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
23-year-old Dani Hrustic is seen during a free medical screening with Doctor Antonella inside the INTERSOS mobile unit arrived at the Opera Don Calabria Institute in the Primavalle district. Dani is originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina but he was abandoned by his family in Italy as a kid and has been living in the street for the past 7 years. After the coronavirus outbreak he lost his job as dishwasher. Doctor Antonella measured Dani’s body temperature and blood oxygenation, explaining the coronavirus prevention measures and collecting also his personal information to help him get registered by the social work in order to give him access to free meals and more assistance. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Cristian, a 26-year-old Nigerian migrant, is seen seated on his bed in a makeshift shelter at the Roma Tiburtina railway station. Hundreds of migrants are forced to live on the streets during Italy's lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Cristian, a 26-year-old Nigerian migrant, is seen seated on his bed in a makeshift shelter at the Roma Tiburtina railway station. Hundreds of migrants are forced to live on the streets during Italy’s lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Two poppies on the roadside in the vicinity of a makeshift shelter outside the Roma Tiburtina railway station. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Two poppies on the roadside in the vicinity of a makeshift shelter outside the Roma Tiburtina railway station. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Hassan, a refugee originally from Sudan, is seen next to another migrant who is sleeping at the Roma Tiburtina railway station. Most of the asylum seekers ended up in the street after the closure of the accommodation centers where they were sheltered, some of them are working as food delivery riders during Italy's lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, March 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Hassan, a refugee originally from Sudan, is seen next to another migrant who is sleeping at the Roma Tiburtina railway station. Most of the asylum seekers ended up in the street after the closure of the accommodation centers where they were sheltered, some of them are working as food delivery riders during Italy’s lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, March 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
A pile of garbage under a tunnel near the Roma Tiburtina railway station, where a Mali asylum seeker lives. In the city of Rome, where about 8,000 homeless people live, with the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, the most vulnerable are particularly exposed to the risk of infection. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
A pile of garbage under a tunnel near the Roma Tiburtina railway station, where a Mali asylum seeker lives. In the city of Rome, where about 8,000 homeless people live, with the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, the most vulnerable are particularly exposed to the risk of infection. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
A view from a tunnel near the Roma Tiburtina railway station where a Mali asylum seeker sleep during Italy’s lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
A view from a tunnel near the Roma Tiburtina railway station where a Mali asylum seeker sleep during Italy’s lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
A tarp hung to dry on a fence in the vicinity of the Roma Tiburtina railway station. Hundreds of migrants are forced to live on the streets without any institutional support during Italy's lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Only a few associations and NGOs are taking care of them, giving information about the Covid-19 virus and the importance of social distancing, and providing them with masks, hand sanitizer, self-certifications, food and blankets. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
A tarp hung to dry on a fence in the vicinity of the Roma Tiburtina railway station. Hundreds of migrants are forced to live on the streets without any institutional support during Italy’s lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Only a few associations and NGOs are taking care of them, giving information about the Covid-19 virus and the importance of social distancing, and providing them with masks, hand sanitizer, self-certifications, food and blankets. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Anthony Ehikwe, a 28-year-old Nigerian refugee, portrayed while holding hundreds of fliers in the hands during a working day on the outskirts of Rome. As being of Christian faith, he was forced to flee his native country to escape religious persecution by Islamist terrorist groups. He has been living in Italy for 4 years now and he received the status of refugee with humanitarian protection. He currently lives in a reception centre in the municipality of Rocca di Papa and works off the books as flyer distributor. Rome, Italy, December 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Anthony Ehikwe, a 28-year-old Nigerian refugee, portrayed while holding hundreds of fliers in the hands during a working day on the outskirts of Rome. As being of Christian faith, he was forced to flee his native country to escape religious persecution by Islamist terrorist groups. He has been living in Italy for 4 years now and he received the status of refugee with humanitarian protection. He currently lives in a reception centre in the municipality of Rocca di Papa and works off the books as flyer distributor. Rome, Italy, December 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
A makeshift shelter realized by a Moroccan homeless living in the vicinity of the Termini station. Around 8 thousands vulnerable people are forced to live in the streets, even during Italy's lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
A makeshift shelter realized by a Moroccan homeless living in the vicinity of the Termini station. Around 8 thousands vulnerable people are forced to live in the streets, even during Italy’s lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Refugees and volunteers of the Baobab Experience association, are seen protesting during a sit-in in Piazza del Campidoglio after the eviction of a settlement of over 150 migrants carried out at the Roma Tiburtina railway station. Rome, Italy, June 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Refugees and volunteers of the Baobab Experience association, are seen protesting during a sit-in in Piazza del Campidoglio after the eviction of a settlement of over 150 migrants carried out at the Roma Tiburtina railway station. Rome, Italy, June 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Sofia, an Ethiopian migrant living in Massa Carrara, is seen with some relatives and friends taking pictures of the hearse carrying the coffin of her 38-year-old brother Ramadan, who was found dead in front of the Roma Tiburtina railway station, where he used to live along with hundreds of migrants abandoned to their fate and forced to live in the street. Rome, Italy, October 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Sofia, an Ethiopian migrant living in Massa Carrara, is seen with some relatives and friends taking pictures of the hearse carrying the coffin of her 38-year-old brother Ramadan, who was found dead in front of the Roma Tiburtina railway station, where he used to live along with hundreds of migrants abandoned to their fate and forced to live in the street. Rome, Italy, October 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Some pigeons fly over the makeshift shelter of a Moroccan homeless living in the vicinity of the Termini station. Around 8 thousands vulnerable people are forced to live in the streets in Rome, even during Italy's lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Some pigeons fly over the makeshift shelter of a Moroccan homeless living in the vicinity of the Termini station. Around 8 thousands vulnerable people are forced to live in the streets in Rome, even during Italy’s lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Rome, Italy, April 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
24-year-old Somali refugee Mouna Alì is seen portrayed in the house where she currently lives and works as caregiver for an old woman. It took her two years to get to Italy and after many difficult moments, she is studying and working in Rome, to achieve her dreams and goals. She hopes to obtain a permanent residence permit, in order to start a career as a reporter and interpreter. Rome, Italy, September 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
24-year-old Somali refugee Mouna Alì is seen portrayed in the house where she currently lives and works as caregiver for an old woman. It took her two years to get to Italy and after many difficult moments, she is studying and working in Rome, to achieve her dreams and goals. She hopes to obtain a permanent residence permit, in order to start a career as a reporter and interpreter. Rome, Italy, September 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Volunteers of the Baobab Experience association are seen near some Carabinieri, who are waiting for a migrant to leave the Roma Tiburtina railway station after having collected his personal belongings in a shopping cart, during the eviction of a settlement of over 150 migrants carried out after Italy's reopening. Rome, Italy, May 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Volunteers of the Baobab Experience association are seen near some Carabinieri, who are waiting for a migrant to leave the Roma Tiburtina railway station after having collected his personal belongings in a shopping cart, during the eviction of a settlement of over 150 migrants carried out after Italy’s reopening. Rome, Italy, May 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
21-year-old Lamine Sane and his 19-year-old girlfriend Giorgia Giannetti, are seen in a tender moment in front of the Naiadi Fountain in Piazza della Repubblica. Lamine was born in Gambia, but he was raised by a family in Senegal. At the age of 15 he decided to meet his biological family and went to visit them, but after 3 days, a group of rebels slaughtered his father in front of him to steal his cows. “Escape Lamine, run away”. His father told him before to be killed. From Gambia to Mali, then Burkina Faso, Niger and through the desert, he arrived in Libya. When he was rescued at sea in Italy, he was among the few people who survived the shipwreck. In 2016 he met Giorgia, who was volunteering to teach Italian language to refugees at the Reception Centre for Asylum Seekers (CARA) in Castelnuovo di Porto and when the center was closed in 2018, Lamine was hosted at Giorgia's parents house for a while. Lamine, issued with a residence permit for subsidiary protection expiring in 2024, is working for a furniture company in Rome, while Giorgia is currently finishing her studies in Human Sciences to become a cultural mediator. They hope to rent an apartment soon to start living together. Rome, Italy, November 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund
21-year-old Lamine Sane and his 19-year-old girlfriend Giorgia Giannetti, are seen in a tender moment in front of the Naiadi Fountain in Piazza della Repubblica. Lamine was born in Gambia, but he was raised by a family in Senegal. At the age of 15 he decided to meet his biological family and went to visit them, but after 3 days, a group of rebels slaughtered his father in front of him to steal his cows. “Escape Lamine, run away”. His father told him before to be killed. From Gambia to Mali, then Burkina Faso, Niger and through the desert, he arrived in Libya. When he was rescued at sea in Italy, he was among the few people who survived the shipwreck. In 2016 he met Giorgia, who was volunteering to teach Italian language to refugees at the Reception Centre for Asylum Seekers (CARA) in Castelnuovo di Porto and when the center was closed in 2018, Lamine was hosted at Giorgia’s parents house for a while. Lamine, issued with a residence permit for subsidiary protection expiring in 2024, is working for a furniture company in Rome, while Giorgia is currently finishing her studies in Human Sciences to become a cultural mediator. They hope to rent an apartment soon to start living together. Rome, Italy, November 2020. © Matteo Bastianelli/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund

NOT ON THE SAME BOAT (2020)