The Foreign Ministry’s Crisis Unit is handling the cases of Italian nationals kidnapped abroad with “great diligence and commitment, 24/7”. The point was underscored by Minister Giulio Terzi, at the end of a meeting with officials from the Crisis Unit to review the situation. The Minister also underlined that “we remain confident” as to the positive outcome of all these cases, including those that are not highly visible in the media but which the MFA continues to follow very closely indeed”.
Coordination
The people working in the Crisis Unit are not just highly professional, but also “highly aware of the human and psychological issues affecting the families of people held captive and at risk”, added Terzi. He underscored “the importance of this work, performed in concert with other Government departments and a fundamental element in protecting our fellow nationals abroad”.
Before leaving: inform yourself, and inform us too
To avoid situations of risk, Minister Terzi took the opportunity of the imminent Easter break to make a strong appeal to those leaving for holidays or for family or work reasons. He urged them to “pay great attention to the assistance provided by the Crisis Unit through the internet and other IT resources at its disposal”. Most notably, the “Viaggiare Sicuri” and “Dove siamo nel mondo” portals. The former provides news, in real time, on regions of potential danger (security problems, domestic unrest, weather events, epidemics). The latter enables Italians leaving the country to register their contact details so that they can be traced in cases of need.
Travelling responsibly
The Minister stressed the need to “pay attention to the dangers you may encounter. Because situations can be created that are extremely difficult to resolve, despite the best efforts of the government authorities”. So, before leaving, travellers are advised to “act responsibly and keep fully informed of the risks they might encounter”.
To reach as many Italians as possible with his appeal, Minister Terzi has sent out a message on Twitter, inviting his fellow citizens to travel safely and to consult the Crisis Unit’s website and all its applications.
