Police today drove out migrants protesting against unsatisfactory living conditions on the Greek island of Lesbos. They were previously housed in the Moria Migrant Camp, which was destroyed by fires this week. Thousands of people have been left homeless and have not had access to food and drinking water for days.
Police have driven out protesting migrants on Lesbian IslandUldis Ķezberis00:00 / 00:00
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Police fired tear gas at several hundred migrants who asked the Greek government for help. It was a response from law enforcement officers to the protesters, who stoned them.
The clashes took place near the site where the authorities set up a new accommodation center for temporary asylum seekers. It is expected to house part of the nearly 13,000 people who previously lived in the Moria Migrant Camp.
It was completely destroyed by several fires this week. The cause is still unknown. Authorities believe that the firefighters were caused by camp residents who were outraged by the quarantine in place after more than 30 migrants were found to be infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus.
Most of the residents of Camp Moria lost all their personal belongings in the fires, but have spent the last nights under a clear sky. Homeless people say they do not have access to toilets and showers, and they lack food and water. So far, they have received help from local volunteers.
Desperate people say they do not want to move into the new camp, where tents have already been set up. An African asylum seeker said they wanted to leave the island of Lesbos.
“We need government help to move to another country. This can be Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden or Norway. That would be a good idea. But the idea of new tents … Maybe in a few days they will burn up again, “the man told Deutsche Welle.
Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitaraki has announced that the new camp will be able to accommodate 3,000 people. Priority will be given to families with young children and the elderly. However, it is not clear where the other asylum seekers will stay. A small number of them have been promised by some European Union (EU) Member States.
Human rights defenders criticize the Greek government and the EU for the situation. In their view, it is not normal for people who came to Europe in the hope of getting help and support to be forced to sleep on the streets.
The Lesbos administration and people are also dissatisfied with the Greek Government’s plans to set up a new migrant accommodation camp. Stratis Kiteliss, head of Mytilene, the island’s largest city, said the local community was full of patience.
UN Secretary-General Antoniu Guteres has today called on all EU member states to take in migrants and asylum seekers stranded on the island of Lesbos.
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