Miserable Conditions in refugee camps in Greece

Following the alarm bell on the part of Amnesty International and the United Nations Agency for Refugees in terms of dire and dangerous conditions created in the crowded Greek island centers for immigrants, the Greek government has begun to transfer them to waiting centres in continental Greece.

According to international agencies, the number of unaccompanied children in island camps has increased by 30% from last year, while over 80% of the 20,500 migrants living in them live in unacceptable sanitation conditions, as 70 people share a single bath.

The head of German staff in Mittilini for Borderless Doctors, Florian Westfal, claims that most of the children in the Moria camp, coming from war zones, are now again vulnerable to a centre where riot and rape are recorded in the late hours of the night. At least four of them attempted suicide in the last week -- he said.

The conditions in these camps are terrible for every unique child and every refugee camp worldwide is a terrible situation for the child. And children are exposed to all kinds of threats: direct threats; abuse, violence, riots”, says Lucian Melandri, Coordinator U n NICEF.

According to the Geneva Agency, the situation is compared to a bomb that is expected to explode at any moment, and the Greek authorities and people who have done what they can to help the vulnerable settlers can no longer face this situation without EU assistance.

With the capacity to expect 3,100 people, the center in Moria currently holds about 9,000 people, among them with over 1700 children. Center in Samos, which has been built for 650 people, now has 680 children, and more than 4,000 people,”, Melandri says.

To narrow down Moria's camp, Greek authorities transferred yesterday 100 out of the 12000 refugees to be accommodated in a new reception centre near Thessaloniki, while about 800 others will be taken to Cavala and Yanina. /Tch