Thousands of Refugees Protest on Greek Island of Lesbos

More than two thousand residents of the Moria camp on the island of Lesbos staged a march protesting their abnormal conditions. Their main demand is relocation to Greek mainland territory. They are determined to migrate from there to other European countries.

The Moria camp on the island of Lesbos in Greece has long been considered a major news story in the field of refugees and migration. Moria was established to accommodate 2,840 migrants, but currently, approximately 20,000 people are living both inside and in the surrounding area of the camp.

On Monday, February 3rd, more than two thousand residents of this camp staged a march in the city of Mytilene, the center of the island, protesting their abnormal conditions and fearing deportation to Turkey.

Protesters, chanting “Freedom, freedom,” demanded their relocation to Greek mainland territory. They are determined to migrate from Greece to other European countries as soon as possible.

According to Greek media reports, police forces prevented the continuation of their march and ended the demonstration by firing tear gas.

Inside the Moria camp, refugees live in tents without heating facilities and are forced to use unhygienic toilets and washing stations. Outside the camp, there are also refugees wandering who are deprived of even these “facilities.”

No Prospects in Sight

Since the beginning of this year, asylum regulations in Greece have been tightened, and the government has announced plans to establish special prisons on the islands for those whose asylum applications have been rejected and who must be deported.

According to a United Nations report, over the past month, an average of at least 100 refugees have arrived on these islands daily.

Conditions for refugees on other Greek islands are no better than on Lesbos. Mayors of islands in the northern Aegean Sea have been warning for months about the deteriorating situation.

On the islands of Chios, Samos, Kos, Leros, and Lesbos, 41,000 migrants are temporarily accommodated. The number of refugees on these islands in April 2019 was around 14,000.

These islands are considered the gateway for refugees entering European territory, and the majority of residents in their camps consist of Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan, and Iranian refugees.

Source: DW