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The fires that broke out in the Greek refugee camp of Moria overnight are now largely under control. It is unclear how the residents will continue. The warehouse was quarantined due to several corona cases.
It was not the first time that a fire broke out in the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, but it had never been so violent. During the night, the camp was almost completely on fire and was massively devastated. Wind gusts of around 60 kilometers per hour made it difficult for firefighters to extinguish the fire, and now, according to information from ARD Correspondent Thomas Bormann but largely under control.
Residential containers were also burned, which is why the authorities ordered the evacuation of the camp. Many of the migrants have already tried to reach the surrounding hills to find safety on their own, according to emergency services. So far there is no information on possible injuries or even deaths. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called an emergency meeting.
It is not clear how things will go with migrants
The fire had spread in and around the quarantined camp, Mytilini Mayor Stratos Kytelis told the private Skai radio station, the AP news agency writes. More than 12,000 migrants from Moria are being monitored by police on a highway. “It’s a very difficult situation because some of those out there have tested positive for the coronavirus,” said the mayor.
In the early morning, riot police were posted around the camp and along a 5-kilometer route to Mytilene. The city is the economic and cultural center of Lesbos. With the procedure, the emergency services apparently wanted to prevent the migrants from reaching the port of Mytilene.
On the Greek public television station ERT, Kytelis said he does not know where people should stay now, thousands are homeless. The situation is also a huge burden for the locals.
Various information on causes
There are several sources of information about the causes of the fires: Some residents of the camp spoke of arson among the islanders. According to other reports, the migrants set themselves on fire and then prevented firefighters from extinguishing the fire. Rescue teams confirmed that some of the camp residents had “resisted.” According to ARD Correspondent Thomas Bormann Local media reported that there were violent disturbances at the camp at night in protest against the closure measures. Moria has been in quarantine since last week because at least 35 migrants have tested positive for the corona virus.
Some migrants wanted to leave the countryside so as not to contract the virus, the Greek semi-state news agency ANA-MPA reported. On the other hand, some infected people and their contacts who were supposed to be isolated refused to leave the camp and be detained.
Overcrowded for years
The Moria refugee camp has been overcrowded for years. According to the Greek Migration Ministry, around 12,600 refugees and migrants currently live there, with a capacity of just 2,800 places. Time and again there were protests against the conditions in the field.
Quick EU aid demands
The international medical aid organization sees responsibility for the latest escalation with the EU. “You can’t let people live on land for years, deny them rights, expose them to a pandemic unprotected, and then be shocked when they rebel against their living conditions,” said Ramona Lenz, a flight and migration consultant. “After this devastating fire, Europe can no longer close its eyes and must finally evacuate Moria and the other camps on the Greek islands.”
The human rights organization Pro Asyl made a similar statement. “It is pathetic that the federal government only wants to take in 928 asylum seekers. For thousands there is no solution, although Germany and other EU states could easily take them in,” said managing director Günter Burkhardt.
The Integration Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Joachim Stamp, also called for a quick reaction from the Federal Government and the EU. The federal states have already offered help, said the FDP politician. “The federal government must take over the coordination. Horst Seehofer and Heiko Maas have been inactive until now. That must change immediately.” Since Germany holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU, it has a special responsibility. “If the EU is not in a position to welcome a few thousand immigrants in a humane way, it is a declaration of bankruptcy of the European value system.”
