(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 23 - The Misericordie d'Italia launch "a cry of alarm".
Without attention from the institutions, "the risk is that in some areas volunteering is forced to stop" due to the high fuel cost.
The national president Domenico Giani says so.
As is done for agriculture, "I ask for attention to the world of volunteering and health-care services. It is not a war between the poor but today there are sedidious Mercies where volunteers, in addition to donating their time and their lives, have to pay for gasoline for to make the ambulances go. The risk is that I will stop somewhere because we are left alone ".
For Giani, former head of the Vatican gendarmerie and today head of one of the most important volunteer organizations in Italy, politics must take into account the demands of the world of the third sector, which "is at the service of the people", "always and not only in the electoral campaign ".
"The political forces that are preparing for a very heated electoral campaign are careful to satisfy the requests of the volunteer resource and not exploit it to get the votes. I already hear declarations: 'volunteering is important, we will do this, we will do that' but volunteering is a heritage, it is a value, of this country always, not only in electoral campaigns. We are at the service of the people and we ask for attention. We have always denounced things that are not right. Now we hope not to be exploited in view of the elections ",
"We have a great concern but volunteering will never cease to be at the service of the people, we love our country, we would just like to be listened to. Really every day - adds Giani - the disappointment of volunteer citizens in the face of institutions".
(HANDLE).