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Thousands of asylum seekers have been forced to endure harsh conditions on the island of Lesbo since Wednesday when Camp Moria was devastated by fires believed to have been intentionally set. Refugee families were forced to crawl under blankets and sleep on doors or sidewalks.
Clashes with the police broke out at noon on Saturday near a new temporary camp built by Greek authorities. Hundreds of young people began to protest when some began throwing stones at riot police. This responded with tear gas attacks.
Meanwhile, firefighters put out a blaze near the police barrier earlier on Saturday.
“Freedom!” Announced a poster of the protesters. “We want to leave Moriah,” says another.
A 24-hour effort to find shelter for the more than 11,000 people left homeless after the Moria fire. there is still a shortage of people, say human rights groups.
Camp Moria, which has been repeatedly criticized by the United Nations and law enforcement organizations for overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions, caught fire on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Authorities blamed the migrants for causing the fires. The first fire broke out shortly after 35 people were diagnosed with coronavirus and isolation measures were introduced.
Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis announced on Saturday that a new camp would open later on Saturday, a few kilometers from Moria, near the sea, and that it could house 3,000 people.
“Rapid coronavirus tests will be done at the entrance,” Mitarachi told Skai TV.
Objections from the local population
The local mayor noted that it was “unrealistic” to build new temporary camps, while the islanders tried to stop the construction of new camps by organizing barricades.
Army and fire service helicopters were used to overcome the obstacles.
“You should forget any ideas to restore such things,” Stratis Kytelis, the mayor of Mytilene, told Antenna TV on Friday.
“Island society can no longer … for reasons of health, social cohesion, national security,” Kytelis said.
The difficult situation of refugee families has led other European countries to offer the reception of hundreds of asylum seekers, especially unaccompanied minors.
However, Greece has long complained that other EU countries are helping very little apart from funding.
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