Was. A warm welcome for people in desperate need. A terrible and tragic fate for others. Thousands of refugees have died in the mediterranean. But some are fortunate enough to travel to italy via a humanitarian corridor neither risking their lives nor paying human smugglers sums they cant afford. Politicians seek to turn europe into a fortress christians are building bridges. These people are welcome in their new home and have settled in well they were among a group of only eighteen hundred from syria eritrea somalia and south sudan. Who are they. How did they get here what is the humanitarian corridor that pope francis has praised as a project that unites solidarity and security. Our journey takes us to ethiopia many refugees from syria eritrea somalia and south sudan across the border near the town of she read. Ethiopia is home to africas second largest refugee population. The humanitarian corridor established by the Catholic Community center g. T. O. And current us italy is designed to help refugees languishing in camps here often in very poor conditions. A safe and legal pathway to europe the Program Grants visas to people in acute need of help and flies them to italy where they are assigned mentors by a city if you were in a few you know p. R. It was a country thats taken in a million refugees. Its opened its doors and done what it can to take care of the refugees in camps and secure them a future where they got free justice thing that should be a lesson to European Countries which do none of that even though they have far greater wealth and resources than a country like ethiopia that the results are replaceable but if you open your commission to the wisdom of far. By chance we meet a group of eritreans they fled their homes and managed to cross the border to ethiopia theyve been travelling for nine days i cant say im going to. Write them all to the laurels and you think i will not. Obviously lots of people are paying to cross the border. Not all of them do because some of them know the region quite well. They pay the pastor someone who allows them to cross. Its dangerous of course they have to take care not to be picked up by the eritrean army. Is there to do in israel they didnt commit to. Take legion his family live in one of the many camps along the border. Theyve heard about the humanitarian corridor and hope to be chosen for the program to. Take me doesnt know what the criteria are he his wife and their two children oh nothing. That i completely constrained in what we can do we get a bit of money thats all we have sometimes i find work but its hard labor id like to get away life here is meaningless italy would certainly be better theres no hope for us here. Is on his way to an interview. He knows hell be one of many candidates. Many eritreans are desperate to leave. The humanitarian Corridor Initiative is financed by current us italy and the center community. Their representatives decide who is most in need of help. John carlo daniele and olivia listen to everyone stories. Tells them his brother is missing and. He could be dead or in jail he doesnt know. For sure you will simply be fishing selecting candidates is always hard the stories we hear are. All very different because all these people are marked by their experiences of untold suffering the pain of having to leave their homes are tortured theyve lived through unimaginably distressing situations people still need a little of both in this committee. And those are the criteria that help the team select candidates who needs medical assistance who has experienced persecution or torture for their women in particular need to support two candidates have family they can join in italy. Maybe they were strictly a move we do three rounds of interviews with them in the third b. Ask them if they really want to go to get really believing in god you describe conditions there and what awaits them because a commitment takes a heavy toll see were often very moved by the stories we hear or sense that i was up about on so but ultimately we have a clear conscience because youre doing what we can to the best of our abilities as we try to make the best possible decision and it will. But today nothing is finalized the best checkley can hope for is that hell be invited back for a second interview and nothing. Remotely what i mean the interesting i always keep in mind the words of jesus in the book of matthew about the last judgment see this is where he identifies completely with the poor in me saying for i was hungry and you gave me food i was thirsty and you gave me drink i was a stranger and you welcomed me i was naked and you closed me this is always been the basis of our work with the poor and now with refugees people who have no home and have had to flee for their. But her it and her family have lived in a border camp for seven years thank made it into the next round of interviews and a new life is starting to feel within reach. She and her husband have two children. They both have Health Problems which is why the family have been deemed in need of help. Arrived in a refugee home in twenty eleven daughter was born around the time that president mellows and died my wife doesnt hear very well and has psychological problems well have to retract because i oppose the governments military service is compulsory meanwhile under a lot of pressure its not a democratic country we couldnt lead a normal life that. All they have left to remind them of home is a coffee pot. For fifty years the center g. T. O. Catholic community has been working to help people in need refugees the homeless the elderly prisoners or street children. It was founded in rome in one nine hundred sixty eight by eighteen year old underage ricardi and some of his school friends. In one thousand nine hundred eighty one Pope John Paul the second gave the community a home in the basilica of sentiment interesting a very. Its a tale of completely normal men and women who understand the meaning of the words of jesus in the acts of the apostles its more blessed to give than to receive material of santa g. T. O. Is by all means a turbulent one but its a tale of service to the poor said its a mission its also a joyful tale the joy of giving into working for other. The biggest diplom. Success in the fifty year history of center g. T. O. Came in one thousand nine hundred two. It played a key role in brokering the mozambique general Peace Agreement which put an end to a fifteen year civil war that had claimed up to nine hundred thousand lives. But center g. T. O. Is perhaps best known for its aids program in africa the interreligious meetings it organizes and its tireless campaigning against the death penalty. The humanitarian Corridor Initiative is a logical step in its work to promote peace. Which. In one thousand nine hundred six there were many christians in turkey who had fled the iran iraq war. Where they came into contact with our community. And explained how much they wanted to escape their region and emigrate to the west. The tell your interior minister at the time was. If you get out if you know and crucially he came to their assistance for you. Then minister really. Really just god for all. The community of santa g. T. O. Is built on a dedication to Prayer Service to the poor and peace. Pope francis himself took part in the celebrations marking the Fiftieth Anniversary of sent to g. D. Oh. He was vocal in his praise for the humanitarian corridor initiated by santa g. T. O. Together with the wild Indian Church and carita. Courage is not a one off gesture but a daily efforts here and in the world on the requires patience. It is a mission of overcoming walls and borders and unite. Going to open more humanitarian corridors for people fleeing war and hunger. But that is sound get out see pope francis under a riccardi refugees and helpers theyre all lobbying for more humanitarian corridors around the world. A particular Political Support is needed to either be a most updated. Youre going according to money thank you so much i think the humanitarian corridors are model because we have two kinds of reactions towards refugees theres the idea of a wall we have no room the boat is full sort of attitude but then the way is paid for the brokers of death illegals. We must open the safe passages for people for people in the light of protection so that they can come to our countries but if we need anything austin pays. A start has been made france belgium and dora and san marino have already adopted the italian model will germany follow suit and by its own estimates the center g. T. O. Community numbers over sixty thousand members worldwide including german branches in berlin munich and mentioned. Back in ethiopia we leave the border to eritrea and drive to the region around and the border to south sudan. Refugees from somalia and south sudan are fleeing war terror and hunger. This young mother of four has lived here for five years. And we ran for our lives we couldnt stay there one of my children died on the one hand. We couldnt save him. Many children dont survive the journey. And in the camps theres not enough to eat. Only be over for to is a father himself his encounters and experiences put his own life into a different perspective. He wouldnt turn me into any man because i see these children here like my own children and i would give them the same opportunities i give march over. What i experience here helps me when i go home to see all the things that seem so important to us in the west in the in a different life and. Knowing what she did and it makes me realize how fortunate we are. And thats something i also want my children to understand they got it done with. And if youre. Sorry trust contributes four Million Euros to fund the humanitarian corridor the italian bishops conference and the Italian Government are also supporting the initiative. That. The two into a family has lived in the slums of addis ababa for seven years the couple shares the cramped space with a single mother and a total of eight children who. Are going to from teaming up is the only way they can afford it here to work is hard to come by. When you get a boat you know you go and you were yourself for a month. Well i know a lot about the nothing is going to. Be ditched the eldest son wants to learn study and make a better life for himself and maybe one day return home he offers to show us around. My lovely homeland country and i love them but quite often thats why of course i feel to meet me in another country by the willing or even my country being. I cant go back to salt because im looking for. An. Immediate i. Seek you the music in the kitchen is next door but its shared with the whole neighborhood. Kitchen for everyone to see so its for the whole area here beats families about to say goodbye to their life here a life without schooling or gainful employment and with inadequate housing soon theyll move to italy via the humanitarian corridor and then we think this is the dunny one we talked to some of the sudanese here in the camps and ask them if they would like to go to europe and they say they have no intention of going to italy to europe and they want to go home with a little bit so if we really want to invest in their future we need to bring peace to their country that leaves out a little blazer for them its an order i. Know for a few jews has long been a top priority for pope francis its been the cornerstone of his pontificate. Almost. His first trip as pope was to lampedusa a small italian island which is to many a symbol of europes misguided refugee policy. Thousands of migrants who made the perilous journey across the mediterranean have reached its shores. Countless others have lost their lives somewhere between north africa and europe. Want to show. The men we as a society have forgotten how to cry its not my fault its nothing to do with me someone else will take care of things. But today nobody in the world feels responsible anymore. He said and live equates to. Culture. Asperity is to blame it for the fact that we think only of ourselves she of rain they seem to makes us insensitive to the cries of others it allows us to live in a bubble all of the support gets on our tail but meaningless on fleeting distractions and too much of everything it will lead to indifference towards others get bored of that even if it is. Worse even they lead to a globalization of indifference he said to ordinary daily in the fair days. Holy thursday the pope knelt and washed the feet of refugees demonstratively caring for them and listening to them. His actions have raised awareness of the plight of the millions of refugees around the world. Has also visited the aegean island of lesbos home to the biggest refugee camp in greece. But frances frequently refers to the parable of the Good Samaritan and urges politicians to do everything in their power to stop the mediterranean from becoming a graveyard. The europe is the homeland of human rights. And whoever sets foot on european soil ought to sense this. Course he says here and there and thus become more aware of the duty to respect and defend those rights he said defamed. When he left Lesbos Pope Francis spontaneously brought twelve Syrian Refugees back with him to rome. There the community of santa didio immediately offered them a home and a future. In. Years the pope has repeatedly appealed to heads of state and governments for help. Five years after his visit to the island of lampedusa he celebrated mess with refugees and volunteers in st peters basilica. Policies son is human being everyone who is suffering. Policies seeks appropriate solution was to protect the integrity of human rights and Human Dignity and the. Many welcome such appeals made by pope francis but all too often they go unheard. The last leg of our journey in ethiopia takes us to addis ababa after months of antigovernment protests a new Prime Minister took office in april twenty eighth and in november the government signed a Peace Agreement with eritrea. And ethiopia where the last all out war was years ago remains a destination for thousands of refugees from neighboring countries many of them are christians as are two thirds of ethiopians. The next step in the humanitarian Corridor Initiative is underway. Its its only a few hours until the departure for italy. Of the refugees are leaving everything behind with no idea what to expect. For a few of them for me for the. Call so i go for a. Soul plane. So im going to sit down in the south of italy people know the special day. Which is close to me. And all the people leaving no money are very hope and there is the sound. Its important for us to tell you once more that the end of this year you you have to walk with your legs but after one year we are sure that if you know italian you will find it but even after a limited time you are you will be allowed to work without waiting for the recognizing of the vo. But the important thing and we repeat is the faster you Learn Italian the faster you will get a jump. A little sad again at that. Saturday though. The italy that is generous and united is the one that i want to represent and not just me. And many others and yet only and i knew that here. Want to pave the way into a new life for these new arrivals. I mean keep it on the thick of it yet politicians make no humanitarian effort there is nothing we can say why the we cant make up for a lack of National Action if im going to stop. Everyone can take along two suitcases to his wife already the excitement is mounting. And. You know cause. You know. What awaits them in italy the family has no idea but they pray that things will get better. I feel i. Have to ease are also ready final instructions on how to cope with their new life in italy a logistical challenge for a family of ten. They cant imagine how they would cope without the team from the humanitarian Corridor Initiative people may not be easy to get here. Because life for answers is not to put a foot in nobody. Life is a toy to his will also be settling in sort until you meet your eluding you can sort of danielle and john carlo explain once again that the visas they receive are only valid for italy. No i just want to sign you. As an agreement between you and us so we make our effort to make you actually come to. That later. On but it was almost a year. In the program that we have established in italy. Helps to prevent hatred. When refugees have no wordly possessions no roof over their heads. And if theyre not listen to it and have no prospects for the future. Then theres a greater likelihood that they will mourn their pasts and the decisions theyve made to someone that doesnt happen with our program. Were company of them during the integration process to get through it was struck by the way. That it. The fate of thirty three families one hundred thirteen individuals is being decided. Until the very last moment there are bureaucratic problems with faeces. No one is taking much with them so the little they have matters all the more. Sad. An overnight flight to italy none of them have ever been on a plane before. The first of many new experiences. Memories im not afraid im just grateful to everyone for a new life and to those names and not so. Badly that i dont know anything about the lives telling now easily on the. The first humanitarian corridor that opened was to lebanon with an estimated population of seven million the country has taken in millions of refugees including most recently many from syria. Some two point five million palestinians have also built a new life here. Centered. Didio and the church have been working here since two thousand and sixteen. Live in Beirut Palestinian quarter the family of six pays two hundred dollars a month for what is essentially a windowless hovel. The rents are very high here everyone knows that the palestinians who are refugees themselves make a profit on us. With his work as a baker but his children cant go to school. His wife rarely ventures out shes too afraid and yet they dont want to risk their lives on the mediterranean. Theres no future for them in lebanon. But they dont believe that they can ever go home to syria even though that is their dream. A Lebanese Initiative has classified the muslim family as being in need of support and theyve been selected for the humanitarian Corridor Program said. That they believe their children will have a Better Future in italy. I dont really know anything about it but i know that europeans live in dignity that for us thats the most important thing that. Every child can go to school and need a normal life. Business to be in the us is not just barely two thousand refugees have arrived in italy via the humanitarian corridor. A negligible figure some might say given there are almost seventy million refugees worldwide. But for the initiative is a godsend theyve placed their full trust in the italians. Francesco p. O. V he works for italys Protestant Church after a two thousand and thirteen shipwreck off lampedusa claimed four hundred lives the church resolved to bring the refugees legally and safely to europe via a humanitarian corridor that politicians were failing to provide the process theyre working on building walls and that wont solve the problem its a pity that they support governments that do not respect human rights. Christian groups have already been able to organize one thousand to tell you and visas for refugees in lebanon and the Italian Government has approved another one thousand. Its possible that further humanitarian corridors will open up but with the n. T. Immigration league party now in government that seems unlikely i. Think they might even make it seem the answer jacki the issue of refugees is often instrumentalist in europe. Its used to scaremonger any money at all because thats the mongol but our experience with the humanitarian corridor has been positive. Factor can move the ball from the northeast and the fact that many people open up their homes to refugees is both astonishing and positive and as they will see evil. The journey from beirut to their destination reaction in southern italy will take twenty four hours despite some apprehension the mood is happy and excited. Its wonderful and dream come true i hope that the children will forget that traumatic experiences and sadness. Leave. Their rival in rio at the southernmost tip of italy these are welcome here the town has taken in hundreds of refugees and become known as a model town for integration. Before they came was a ghost town. In the road im just the mayor of a small town with a population of fifteen hundred for me its tremendously gratifying to were founded the town that welcomes refugees which has become known around the world for its humanitarian message you want to drive. These have been given a far better apartment than the one they lived in in beirut once the father finds a job and begins to earn a living. The family will start to feel like they have really arrived this is the change oh well when we first got here i wanted to go right back i told them take me back to lebanon on the very first night i was so tired but then i was able to rest people treated us well italians are good warm hearted people. But he must have changed his mind from one day to the next the l. J. B. F. Disappeared say the locals to this day there is no trace of them. Approximately fifteen percent of the participants in the humanitarian Corridor Initiative end up going underground. Until you are all are just. So on i know but oh well even the swiss watches sometimes dont work for me. These are people who have gone to find family members in other European Countries. Through normal for me they didnt just give up this employee took a different path. The majority of people integrate in italy. In germany political debate has been dominated for several years now by the refugee issue and questions concerning Transit Centers repatriation and fortress europe. The government in berlin is familiar with legal migration options. Might there one day be a humanitarian corridor to germany. The chancellor has repeatedly expressed her approval for such projects. Including at the center g. T. O. International peace meeting in minster in september twenty seventh. That we have you help to prevent refugees from falling into the clutches of Human Trafficking and from taking life threatening journeys across the mediterranean for the help that i. Im deeply grateful once again donna the i am one of you are also a wonderful example of the role that Civil Society in general can and should play in making the world more humane and mentioning his. Religious communities demonstrates a humane creativity which politics in many parts of the world is there unfortunately often lachine in time and of it its often. In fact germany was widely praised for its humanitarian response when the flood of refugees reached its peak in the summer of two thousand and fifteen. Many people found a new home here refugee helpers and volunteers worked around the clock. To german bishops conference appointed a special representative for refugee issues the archbishop of hamburg stephan has said would like to establish a humanitarian corridor in germany vs. Forty thousand. We face major challenges on the government level and so far as the interior ministry is not on board with the plans like. If yours the initiative could bring about a shift in thinking. From there thats why we as a church are in conversation at the state level. There are possibilities. We have to see now whether there is scope for cooperation between state governments and churches and Church Groups whose weakness wont be easy and focus on. The number of refugees arriving in germany is now considerably lower than it was in two thousand and fifteen. Many refugee homes are now empty. But the german governments new policy is to regulate refugee numbers with border controls and deportations and limited applications for family reunification. Germanys churches would like to see a different approach were over german law does not grant fisa. On humanitarian grounds but i think i was getting to before i think it would overwhelm our missions abroad if it were possible to apply for visas or asylum that. We in interior ministry do support is a private Sponsorship Program for a total of five hundred refugees. And people at his book i think i wont break on this with the Evangelical Church of germany your mom this could mean for me if i can also offer the program to carry tasks and the catholic church. On march into its money is the representative of the council of the Evangelical Church in berlin and brussels he welcomes the interior ministries offer under this program those in need of protection will also be selected according to the criteria of the un Refugee Relief organization u. N. H. C. R. And be assigned mentors. In the city looking for. The initiatives as proposed by the interior ministry. Of food from the men from the Pilot Project allows up to five hundred people to come to europe safely and legally. Of oftentimes people of their own have residence permits for three years. So its a good solution. Because it factors integration into their lives from the outside. Those well the private Partnership Program will launch in twenty nineteen and state programs might follow. Its an initiative that has much in common with the humanitarian corridor. Twenty refugees have now been in sorrento for about six months. Its a picturesque town west of the coast about an hours drive south of naples. Two families from southern sudan and eritrea live in a car a shared house in the middle of town. Initially her husband struggled to settle in at first the couple and their two children lived with a host family but that didnt work out. A pirate has difficulties with her hearing and is often depressed. But slowly theyre starting to feel at home. Like when i was. We have understood that we are guests here and as such we are treated in a very special way. Lives a very different now. Will eventually become part of the community but there will always be challenges. But the difference between the refugee camp in ethiopia and life here in sorrento its like the difference between heaven and hell in terms of climate and quality of life. The children have learnt the language. They will grow up here thats very important they are the lucky ones. Nettie is responsible for the current us project in sorrento together with his team he wants the refugees to feel at home here. The budget to meet their daily needs is fifteen euros a day per person. You know. Theres a schedule for household chores. Nobody wanted to use the dishwasher at first the kitchen appliance was unfamiliar to them as was italian cuisine. Now everyone likes pasta. And i was. Surprised and happy when i first arrived there have been rainy days since we got here but its never rained inside the house in august the roof leaked out everything was drenched when it rains youll be here the roof doesnt leak theres a. Tricity Running Water food. Twice a week the adults have italian lessons where the children have picked up the new language easily the grown ups are struggling god. Bless. Their media this. After years of hardship settling into their new lives is a challenge it cant happen overnight but time is not on their side that he was. It was a little full integration can only work in a year for those who were very very motivated yeah if you look at our group two to three percent of them are is the more the the others will need a long time that he will be the number of children is a challenge even with the family from southern sudan has eight children. Of course the children are learning and tell him quickly but managing to provide for a family with eight children would be a challenge for italians to they put only tell you how do you. Know what i was going to get for. The refugees in sorrento will be mentored for a year. Here scarred by their experience of war and refugee camps. Their wounds take time to heal. Me since we got here weve had medical treatment i have problems with my needs very painful im waiting for an operation my wife is hard of hearing and shes also being treated. Doing so well here but people in south sudan a suffering so much. More like a big you know they get good. After seven. Difficulties locals have grown used to the new arrivals and gotten to know them. Back. The humanitarian Corridor Program has helped put a human face on a controversial issue in italy. The simpleness were really fine here and we still dont speak much italian about enough to make ourselves understood its a hospitable city we appreciate gods. Self the people are so friendly and warm hearted. But also guts were incredibly glad to have been welcomed here all. Of the same. Good. Me. But the question remains will the governing coalition made up of the five Star Movement and the far right league party continue to support the humanitarian corridor. Its not out of the question. Of always praised the humanitarian corridor its a good thing its a form of immigration that is safe legal comfortable and orderly for people who have the right to come to italy. Good news for the one thousand eight hundred or so refugees who have already arrived in italy beardy humanitarian corridor and for others desperately hoping for a chance to reach europe without risking their lives. But. My small children also try. To get. Through the. Downed weapon the camera. Their mission. The watch. The knowledge talents presents five colorful voices and then visionaries the battle for a Better Future. May accompany them from the first sketch on the way to the big screen. In sixty minutes b. T. W. Im scared that the work thats hard and in the end this is a me youre not allowed to stay here anymore we will send you back. Are you familiar with this. With the smugglers what alliances. Whats your story. Im with numbers of women especially of victims of violence. Take part and send us your story we are trying always to understand this new culture. Another visitor. You want to become citizens. In so migrants your platform for reliable information. There are reports that the newborn son of british born teenager Shamima Begum has died in syria begum who joined the Islamic State when she was fifteen has said she wanted to go back to the u. K. To raise her baby in better conditions british home secretary such a job that revoked her citizenship to prevent her from returning