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The intense fire that broke out in the Moria refugee camp earlier this week spread rapidly. Much of the overcrowded camp has burned down and thousands of people have been forced onto the streets, many without food or water.
On Friday, thousands of people continued to protest against the current conditions in Moria. The fire at the camp is said to have started after riots broke out when several residents tested positive for COVID-19, but exactly what caused it is not yet clear.
Temporary camps
The Greek authorities have set up a new makeshift camp on the island today as temporary accommodation for almost 4,000 people. They have described the new camp as sheer horror.
The protests were described as quiet, with people calling for help from Germany, where many refugees and migrants have arrived in recent years.
Migrants will not be allowed to leave the camp, with the exception of 400 unaccompanied children who may be allowed to leave the island, reports AP. These were flown to the Greek mainland on Wednesday. A dozen EU countries have said they will now welcome Moria’s unaccompanied children.
“You must step forward”
What will happen to the rest of the people on the field is still unclear.
– Now all who remain need a roof over their heads, we send ferries where mainly some pregnant women or children will live. But in my view, we have to evacuate more people from the island to the mainland, and I hope and believe that the Member States will step forward and be prepared to receive more immigrants from Greece as well.
The Moria refugee camp has been closed since the first COVID-19 case was identified.
The UN has warned of a tense situation in the area when the coronavirus has already reached the island. The World Health Organization, WHO, has stated that they are ready to send emergency medical aid to the scene.
A humanitarian catastrophe threatens the emergency situation with 13,000 homeless migrants and refugees left unresolved.
