[ad_1]
Following the devastating fire in the Moria refugee camp, the debate on the situation of migrants on the Greek islands has returned to the agenda. But even before the fire disaster, the situation was dramatic, not just on the Greek island of Lesbos, where the now almost completely destroyed Moria camp is located. Refugees are also living in catastrophic conditions on other islands in the Aegean Sea. According to a media report, local authorities are making foreign aid considerably more difficult.
As “Welt am Sonntag” reports, a Technical Relief Organization (THW) project failed in March due to “political problems”. On behalf of the federal government, the water supply on the Aegean island of Samos should be improved.
THW’s report to the Federal Ministry of the Interior said of the project’s failure: “Apparently technical problems (not enough water in the new camp) turn out to be political problems on closer inspection (for example, disconnection of the main line of water to the new camp) and therefore cannot technically, but only politically. ” According to the THW, the main water line in the refugee camp was disconnected by a local administration due to protests from the population.
In addition, there were indications of a well in the immediate vicinity, which the THW could not find because the island administrations “supposedly do not know the exact location”. The possibilities of EU infrastructure projects have also not been exploited sufficiently. Of the 310 million euros made available, only 70 million came out, the newspaper reported, citing the THW report.
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) had committed to financing the water project in Samos, which has yet to be implemented.
More than 25,000 people live in overcrowded camps on the Aegean islands of Leros, Samos, Lesbos, Kos and Chios. The Moria refugee camp on Lesbos was almost completely destroyed in the fires on Tuesday and Wednesday. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 11,500 people were left homeless, including 4,000 children.
Many of the refugees no longer want to stay in Lesbos, but mainly in Germany. The admission of homeless refugees from Moria is further explored here. Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) announced on Friday that up to 150 minors would be removed from the camp.
However, he also said that the most important thing was to get help on the spot. Greece 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.
300 migrants move to a new tent camp
Around 300 migrants have now moved to a new tent camp on Lesbos. Most of them are families, as Greek state broadcaster ERT reported on Sunday. Before being admitted to the new camp, everyone had to take a rapid coronavirus test. The virus was discovered in seven refugees, the broadcaster reported, citing the Health Ministry. The seven were taken to a remote part of the Kara Tepe tent camp to isolate them.
The situation on the island was also extremely tense on Sunday. Several thousand migrants wait in the streets. It could be weeks before everyone had a roof over their heads after last Wednesday’s fire. Authorities are looking for more places where tent camps can be set up.
