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The Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos is almost completely destroyed after a fire. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) has commented on the situation of the around 12,000 affected people and on relief measures. Germany has agreed to take in between 100 and 150 unaccompanied minors. A total of ten EU countries have agreed to divide Moria’s around 400 unaccompanied minors among themselves. Germany and France would “bear the majority” of this, estimate between 100 and 150 people for each country, Seehofer said.
A total of ten European countries have already committed to participate in the resettlement of minors from Moria. We are in talks with other countries. Only then can an exact number be given.
Seehofer also mentioned other priorities for possible aid measures. “The most important thing is local aid,” said the interior minister. Now we have to secure accommodation and care for the people of Lesbos as quickly as possible. The Greek government has drawn up a list of requirements for this. In cooperation with aid organizations, they want to make sure that as many points as possible can be met.
It is also important to find a European solution. Europe has failed because of this for years, and there is little hope that future efforts will be more successful (read a comment here). Seehofer claimed that the “no solution” in the negotiations on a common European asylum policy had led to the current catastrophic situation on Lesbos.
The EU Commission wants to present a new proposal on the EU’s migration and asylum policy on 30 September. Seehofer announced that. Among other things, there should be a system of “lasting and effective solidarity” within the EU. The commission’s vice president, Margaritis Schinas, also connected via video and outlined the idea in broad strokes.
The EU Commission wants to present a specific plan on September 30; According to Schinas, the initiative has three elements:
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Increased aid to developing countries should ensure that people do not even leave their homes
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With a new coast guard and more staff, the EU’s external borders must be better and “more robustly” protected
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There should be a permanent system of solidarity between all EU countries when it comes to asylum seekers
Schinas admitted that the EU Commission failed in 2016 with an initial attempt to agree on a common refugee policy. “Moria is a very strong reminder for us of what we need to change in Europe.”
Municipalities agree to accept refugees
The Moria camp was almost completely destroyed in several simultaneous fires Wednesday night. Instead of the planned 3,000 migrants, more than 12,000 people stayed there. Some of the migrants are said to have started shooting after a quarantine was ordered for the residents of the refugee camp due to corona infections.
A new refugee center will be built on Lesbos under the leadership of the EU Commission and Greece. Seehofer also said Greece made suggestions Thursday on how Germany could help with housing and caring for homeless people at the site. The federal government now wants to sit down with German aid organizations to help as fully as possible.
The city leaders of ten large German municipalities had previously written to Seehofer and Chancellor Angela Merkel. In it they declared their willingness to accept people from Moria. Until now, Seehofer had refused to give willing municipalities the opportunity to host refugees of their own free will. Refuses to accept refugees from Greece without help from Germany.
Seehofer said that if Germany acted on its own, a European solution could be “put on record”. On the other hand, you can’t wait for the latest state to participate. It should start with those who are willing to participate.
Seehofer described the admission of 400 underage refugees as the first step. He left open what might seem like a second step. He did not commit to a specific number: several members of the Union had asked in a letter to Seehofer that up to 5,000 people be admitted if necessary.
