Local revolt against the Moria camp – VG

The Moria camp has left deep scars on the people of the island of Lesbos. After the violent fire on Wednesday night, the camp is once again in ruins. The thousands of migrants who lived in the countryside are scattered for all to see.

The extremely aggravated situation has turned on the minds of the locals. This is a situation that dates back more than five years, when the camp was first established in what was then a former military camp.

Background: This is what Moria’s camp looks like after the great fire

The locals in and around the town of Moria have now transported two large vehicles that completely block the road some distance before the camp.

This is in an attempt to ensure that Greek authorities do not rebuild the camp, as they said on Wednesday they had plans.

– We are here today to demonstrate and to prevent trucks from entering the destroyed camp to rebuild and pitch the tents again, says the leader of the town hall in the nearby village of Moria, Yiannis Nastroyiannis, to VG.

– There should be no more tents here because if you put them back, things will just go back to the way they were before, continue.

Now he is requesting that the migrants be transferred to an area away from other settlements on the island.

The nightmare stories: This is how they fled the flames

An annoyed mayor in Mitelini, Stratis Kytelis, stands in the middle of the crowd that has gathered at the barricade. He fully supports a stop to rebuilding the camp.

– I call it a monster because it is said to have a capacity for 2,000 people, while now 12,000 live in the camp. Now these are distributed for all winds in the olive groves of the area, with very poor hygienic conditions. Especially considering the corona pandemic, this problem is very clear, he tells VG.

The coronavirus has been detected within the camp and the authorities have no control over the 35 that have been detected by the virus. These now move freely on the island.

Kytelis describes the damage to the area as a total disaster with significant economic consequences.

– Our family in the EU should eventually take over our problem and take responsibility for solving it with us. Migrants must be divided into different European countries, since it is not possible for one country or one island to carry the entire burden on their shoulders, he continues.

Did you bring it with you? Norway sends crisis team to Moria

Now he is calling for the islanders’ health to be better protected while the country is in the midst of a pandemic.

– The locals have opened their hearts, given their property and saved lives, but now they have reached their limit, he says.

The mayor’s prayer comes at the same time that the Minister of Migration and Asylum Notis Mitarakis announced that the authorities will move in with new tents where it is still possible in the Moria camp. A massive cleanup of the ruins of the fire is also expected.

The Greek authorities have also decided to transport 400 unaccompanied minors to the Greek mainland to alleviate the situation on Lesbos. But there are still thousands of unsolved destinations on the island.

During the same period, the Greek navy will relocate with two ships that will temporarily house the many migrants who have now set up their makeshift tents elsewhere on the island.

A short distance from the ruined camp, hundreds of migrants have stopped along the way. Most of them have set up makeshift tents to shade the sweltering afternoon heat.

Many of the migrants have lined up in various vans distributing food, probably on behalf of the Greek authorities. The situation is partly vast, but many rejoice when they get a hot meal after escaping the flames in the camp.

There are many children among the migrants. The questions are where they will find refuge in the future.