“We are coordinating to give the proposal, Germany and France, and we are trying to include maximum European countries to welcome refugees and minors, especially based on the demands of the Greek government,” Macron said during a speech. Corsica.
“Europe has to stand in solidarity with Greece to face the” terrible reality that is before us, “he said.
“In the coming hours, the details of the response will be finalized,” Macron added. On Thursday evening, the Med 7 Summit will gather the leaders of the South European countries in Porticio, Corsica.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass tweeted, “What is happening in Moria is a humanitarian catastrophe.” “As soon as possible, we are ready to help the EU Commission and other EU countries. We need to clarify how we can support Greece. This includes the distribution of EU participants willing to accept them.”
Greek officials believe the blaze was started by residents expressing “dissatisfaction” with the coronavirus-related lockdown measures.
Moria, which was under lockdown after 35 people tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week, was home to an estimated 13,000 people, six times its maximum capacity of 2,200. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 20,000 children lived in the camp.
In a televised statement, Greek Prime Minister Kirikos Mitsotakis declared a state of emergency on the island, and said he condemned the riots that ravaged the camp.
“I recognize difficult situations. However, nothing can be alibi for violent reactions to health checks. And, more so for riots of this intensity,” Mitsotakis said. “Moriah’s situation cannot be continued because it is a matter of public health, humanity and national security at the same time.”
The country’s migration and asylum Panagiotis Mitarachis confirmed to CNN that the fire was intentionally lit, requiring new “safer” and “more humane” facilities.
“It is clear that we need a new facility that is safer and provides more humane conditions and the appropriate capacity needed.”
Removed inadvisable children
The Greek government said in a statement on Thursday that the blaze had removed more than 400 unaccompanied children from Lesbos.
“The departure of 406 unaccompanied minors from Lesbos was completed in Paro, with coordinated action by the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum and the International Organization for Migration,” the statement said.
The children were first sent to the island’s shelters between 10pm on Wednesday night and 7.30am on Thursday before boarding three chartered flights from Odyssey Elites Airport in Matilda, the capital of Lesbos, the statement said.
“The children have been relocated to a safe haven in northern mainland Greece, where they will be on a temporary basis, as the migration program to EU countries and their placement in long-term mainland guesthouses continues unabated,” the statement said. Tested for Covid-19.
“The main concern of the Greek government is the protection of those at risk.”
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Greek government spokesman Stelios Patsas said of the migrants accused of starting the fire: “They thought they would leave the island, without exception, if they burned Moriah. We are telling them they did not understand. ” They will not escape the effects of the fire, except for minors who have already been relocated. So, whoever started the fire was in mind, he can forget. “
On Thursday, another small fire broke out in the Moria camp. Local residents have blocked many roads for army or other vehicles to rebuild or clear the camp.
Residents of Lesbos are already in talks with the government about plans to replace Moria with a closed reception center. Locals fear this could mean thousands of asylum seekers will remain permanently on the island.
‘The whole camp burned down’
There were no reports of injuries, but on the ground, photographer George Mutafis told the Greek TV channel Mega that the camp was “completely destroyed.”
“The Moria camp no longer exists. The camp is completely destroyed. The containers and tents are completely destroyed. The fire is out now. Many migrants and refugees have now returned to the camp and are looking for their belongings.”
“All the camps have burned down,” he said Wednesday.
Charity and activist groups on the ground also said the fire destroyed a large number of camps.
“Some people living in the camp last night were angry about the quarantine. They started a small fire. So the police came and there was tear gas. And then the fire spread and we had to run,” the camp denied. Disclose his full name for security reasons.
The resident added, “There’s nothing. I’m camping out on the street, near the camp. There are a lot of people here. There are also police but they don’t tell us where they’re going.” “We don’t have food or water. They say ‘wait here.’ It’s very hot today and there are women and children. “
Paul Kadima Muzangueno, a resident of the Cong camp, told CNN that a group of minors started the fire.
“They started firing everywhere,” Muzangueno said. “Everything quickly deteriorated. The situation did not come to the police.”
“In the evening, anger and frustration erupted among the beleagured refugees at Moria,” the German charity group Mission Lifeline said in a statement.
The statement said, “There was a dispute at the Covid-19 station in the first camp which spread throughout the area during the night. Security forces used tear gas.” “Most of the housing was burnt down. Homeless people fled to the surrounding olive groves.”
Axel Steer, co-founder of Mission Life, said he warned that the situation would “increase” over the camp’s poor conditions, and called the lockdown measures “the final straw”.
“The people of Moria are exposed to extreme mental stress. The lockdown of the camp has now become the final straw,” Steer said. “Morea refugees are not considered human.
“Among other things, we asked [German] Judgment by the federal government to get all people out of the Greek camp. “Hardly anything has happened,” Stear added.
Limbo State
The Moria camp extends into olive groves outside the main UN camp where thousands live in makeshift wooden huts. Its residents say they wait for hours to use the bathroom, and sometimes spend all day queuing for food.
When CNN reported from the camp in March that the air was filled with the smell of ranks, the river was strewn with rubbish and campers were protesting at the island’s main port on an almost daily basis demanding Greek mainland transportation.
On Wednesday, Moriah’s migrants described the condition of the lemon as being, awaiting notice from authorities in their burning items. “We weren’t told anything. No one showed up,” Muzangueano said. “We’re here and we’re waiting.”
Mitsotakis promised to keep the migrants in “proper tents” but said they would be barred from leaving the island.
The UN refugee agency said in a statement on Wednesday that it had deployed staff to the area and offered assistance to Greek authorities.
“The UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, is battling a massive fire at the Moria Registration and Identification Center (RIC) last night and thanks to local officials, including the fire department and emergency services, who helped contain the fire and help people. ” Said in the statement.
CNN’s Barbara Vojazer and Emma Reynolds contributed to this report.
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