Published : 04-01-2020
Palestinian and Syrian migrants who have sought shelter in Moria refugee camp, pitched on the Greek island of Mytilene, took to the streets, speaking up against the squalid humanitarian conditions they have been facing.
The refugees also denounced the crackdowns perpetrated by Greek authorities and police against the helpless migrants.
Over recent months, Moria, one of the biggest refugee camps in Europe, has been running at four times its capacity, reportedly with over 12,000 refugees.
Thousands of women and girls are trapped on Greek islands, often in horrendous conditions, due to a “containment” policy for asylum seekers, to facilitate speedy processing and return to Turkey under the EU-Turkey deal.
A few months earlier, UNICEF warned that the number of unaccompanied migrant minors staying in overcrowded reception centers on the Greek islands exceeds 1,100, the highest level since the peak of the refugee crisis in early 2016, calling on European countries to do more to protect vulnerable children.
Built to house 3,000 people, the Moria facility is hosting more than 8,700, including some 3,000 children, according to UNICEF. There are 520 unaccompanied children at a special section of the camp which was made to hold 160. Overall, Greece is hosting more than 32,000 child migrants of whom 4,100 are unaccompanied.
Activists said it is vital that European governments increase pledges to relocate unaccompanied and separated refugee and migrant children, and fast-track family reunifications for those who already have relatives in Europe and elsewhere.
The refugees’ cries for help are a stark reminder that the situation in reception centers in Greece is at a breaking-point.
Palestinian refugees from Syria continue to risk their lives onboard the “death boats” to Greece, rummaging around for a momentary respite from the daily scenes of bloodshed and destruction.
AGPS has kept record of the death of dozens of refugees onboard Greece-bound ships. Several others have been arrested by Turkish coast guards.
Activists estimate that around 4,000 Palestinian refugees from Syria are taking shelter in substandard facilities and unequipped reception centers on Greece islands.
Palestinian and Syrian migrants who have sought shelter in Moria refugee camp, pitched on the Greek island of Mytilene, took to the streets, speaking up against the squalid humanitarian conditions they have been facing.
The refugees also denounced the crackdowns perpetrated by Greek authorities and police against the helpless migrants.
Over recent months, Moria, one of the biggest refugee camps in Europe, has been running at four times its capacity, reportedly with over 12,000 refugees.
Thousands of women and girls are trapped on Greek islands, often in horrendous conditions, due to a “containment” policy for asylum seekers, to facilitate speedy processing and return to Turkey under the EU-Turkey deal.
A few months earlier, UNICEF warned that the number of unaccompanied migrant minors staying in overcrowded reception centers on the Greek islands exceeds 1,100, the highest level since the peak of the refugee crisis in early 2016, calling on European countries to do more to protect vulnerable children.
Built to house 3,000 people, the Moria facility is hosting more than 8,700, including some 3,000 children, according to UNICEF. There are 520 unaccompanied children at a special section of the camp which was made to hold 160. Overall, Greece is hosting more than 32,000 child migrants of whom 4,100 are unaccompanied.
Activists said it is vital that European governments increase pledges to relocate unaccompanied and separated refugee and migrant children, and fast-track family reunifications for those who already have relatives in Europe and elsewhere.
The refugees’ cries for help are a stark reminder that the situation in reception centers in Greece is at a breaking-point.
Palestinian refugees from Syria continue to risk their lives onboard the “death boats” to Greece, rummaging around for a momentary respite from the daily scenes of bloodshed and destruction.
AGPS has kept record of the death of dozens of refugees onboard Greece-bound ships. Several others have been arrested by Turkish coast guards.
Activists estimate that around 4,000 Palestinian refugees from Syria are taking shelter in substandard facilities and unequipped reception centers on Greece islands.
