The government in Athens continues to bring hundreds of refugees to mainland Greece, who are housed in closed camps for deportation to their countries of origin. A total of 600 migrants from the islands of Samos, Chios and Lesbos were brought to a camp in northern Greece over the weekend, according to reports from public service broadcasters. Last week, more than 400 migrants had been brought to a camp in Athens.
According to the information, they are migrants who came to Greece from Turkey after March 1. The Greek government denies them the right to apply for asylum and wants to expel them to their countries of origin.
Athens responded to Turkey’s announcement in late February that it would open the EU’s borders to migrants. On Sunday morning, 31 new migrants from Turkey transferred to the island of Lesbos, according to local media, citing the coast guard.
NGO accuses EU of racism
The human rights organization Pro Asyl accused the EU and Greece of being racist. People should be brought from the hopelessly overcrowded camps to the mainland as quickly as possible. A coronavirus outbreak could have serious consequences.
Around 42,000 people are currently persevering in and around the camps on the islands of Leros, Kos, Samos, Chios and Lesbos. These had arrived before March 1st. Your asylum applications are still being processed.
Prevent camp epidemic
“You lock out the public, seek protection and leave them vulnerable to the corona virus. Europe has a racism problem, ”said Günter Burkhardt, managing director of Pro Asyl.
Moria, the largest camp in Greece on the island of Lesbos, and other hotspots should not become a death trap. So far 530 cases of coronavirus infections and 13 deaths have been registered in Greece – the camps on the islands have so far been spared.
