FROM YESTERDAY TO TODAY POLITICAL REFUGEES FROM YESTERDAY TO TODAY Ani, Capace, Pascolini, Pizzoni

THE HOLOCAUST Holocaust from the Greek: « sacrifice by fire» The Holocaust was a state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by Nazi regime and its collaborators.

ESCAPING NAZY GERMANY Few people helped the Jews to escape. Among those who helped the Jews were various local and international Jewish organizations: Joint Distribution Committee Jewish Agency for Palestine World Jewish Congress Sympathetic non-Jews, motivated by opposition to Nazism

REFUGEE CONVENTION As a result of this escape, in 1951 a Refugee Convention was signed. A United Nations multilateral treaty that defines who is a refugee, and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum.

SYRIAN CIVIL WAR More than 250,000 Syrians have lost their lives in four and a half years of armed conflict, which began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war. Violence escalated and the country descended into civil war as rebel brigades were formed to battle government forces for control of cities, towns and the countryside. The conflict is now more than just a battle.

How do they reach Europe? REFUGEES How do they reach Europe? The International Organization for Migration estimates that: 920,000 migrants arrived by sea between January and November 2015 280,000 get stuck between land and sea 3,695 migrants are reported to have died trying to make the crossing.

SICILY, ITALY According to a CNN article: They come in thousands, into barely seaworthy boats to make the tremendous journey from Africa and the Middle East to Europe. Many have traveled far over land, paying an amount of at list $5000 to people smugglers. They've been robbed, beaten and in some cases imprisoned during their desperate attempts to escape life in their own countries. When they get to the coasts or to the borders they get sent to different camps across the country, where they get a temporary place to stay and some food. Unfortunately the places they are given are not always comfortable, they are forced to live in very critical situations: such as sharing beds with more than two people, having just a toilette or none and having to stick to not more than two meals a day.

AN INTERVIEW TO ABDHID Where are you from? I’m from Pakistan. Why did you decide to leave your country? Because I felt my life was in danger and that I wasn’t going to be able to live a modern life. So I left. How was the life in your country? It was very difficult. I lived very close to the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan and there was costant war and intimidation. We lived in miserable conditions withouth comunication services, electricity and transport. What did you do to leave your country? Was it easy? No, it wasn’t easy. I just took a decision because otherwise I could die. What was it like when you got here? Was it what you expected? I didn’t know much about the foreign countries, especially Europe. But when I got here in Italy I met very good and helpful people. What are you looking forward to? I see my future brighter here because the education system and lifestyle is much better than my country. So I believe I have more opportunities. Abdhid was an electrician in his country. He has been here for six months and he’s studying Italian and doing a work training course.