Summer 2026: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs providing assistance to Italians abroad

During the summer of 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Crisis Unit and its diplomatic-consular network, provided assistance to Italians abroad, intervening in thousands of cases where compatriots found themselves in emergency situations or in difficulty.

Between 1 June and 31 August, the diplomatic and consular network coordinated 25 medical repatriations and carried out 600 consular assistance operations, 400 of which involved emergency financial assistance. Over the summer, around 370 Italian nationals were arrested, detained or held in custody, and were assisted by our missions. In total, around 210,000 passports and electronic identity cards were issued, along with around 4,000 temporary travel documents to those in urgent need.

During the same period, the Crisis Unit's Operations Centre received over 6,000 telephone calls and coordinated assistance for Italian nationals in more than 130 incidents involving natural disasters, episodes of political instability, maritime and aviation accidents, and acts of terrorism. On the instructions of Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, task forces were set up to assist Italian nationals following the earthquake in Venezuela, the floods in Nepal and, most recently, the shooting in Aarau, Switzerland.

We would like to remind Italian nationals in emergency situations that they can contact the Foreign Ministry's Crisis Unit on .