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They demanded the immediate evacuation of all the camps on the Greek islands and the reception of the people. Individual states would have to take the initiative because no European solution was in sight, the “Seebrücke” organization explained. The International League for Human Rights also attended the rallies under the theme “We have space!” called.
The protesters displayed posters with slogans such as “Evacuate Moria” and “Qué shame, UE” (“What a shame, UE”). The evacuation of the camp was necessary due to unsustainable hygienic conditions that existed before the fire, speakers at the demonstrations said.
Holland and Austria do not want to host refugees
The Netherlands had previously announced that they would not accept refugees from Moria. “The Netherlands has always taken the position that we do not stand up to the people,” said Secretary of State for the Justice Ministry, Ankie Broekers-Knol, on RTL Nieuws television station. The Hague had previously promised humanitarian aid to Greece, “but in taking care of the refugees, as Germany wants to do, the answer is no.”
Austria also continues to denounce the acceptance of migrants from the Moria camp, which was badly damaged by a fire. “We have to be very careful not to send signals here that would set off a chain reaction that we may no longer be able to control,” Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said Wednesday night on ORF’s “ZiB2 news program. “.
If the field was cleared by distributing the migrants to European countries, it would soon be full again, the minister said. As soon as the door to Europe was ajar, many immigrants left immediately. “We have to de-emotionalize the debate, we have to rationalize it.” It doesn’t help to ask for distribution in every incident or emergency. “That cannot be the solution,” Schallenberg said.
Instead of the planned 3,000, more than 12,000 people stayed in Moria. The camp was almost completely destroyed in the fires Wednesday night. The Athens Migration Ministry had previously announced that 35 residents of the camp had tested positive for the corona virus. As a result, there were protests among residents.
The homeless migrants will initially be housed in boats and tents, as announced by Greece’s migration minister, Notis Mitarakis.
SPD urges a quick fix
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the fire had shown that the situation could not continue. Greece needs the help of the other EU countries. EU Interior Commissioner Ylva Johansson initially promised quick help, was in contact with local authorities, she tweeted.
At the federal level, the SPD asked the coalition partner Union to clear the way for those affected to come to Germany. “We urge the chancellor to find a quick solution,” said SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich. Pressure on Interior Minister Horst Seehofer is also growing, especially from the state side.
Individual federal states have already announced that they want to host refugees. Thuringia had already decided months ago to accept some 500 refugees, but failed due to federal resistance.
Development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) told ARD that Germany should receive 2,000 immigrants from Moria. Germany should go ahead with a corresponding “sign of humanity”, he said. “Personally, I am of the opinion that we should accept the offers of the German states.” So far, the federal government has avoided that position and has only talked about Germany helping Greece.
