Hopelessness: Christmas in the Lesbos refugee camp

Mud, scabies, hopelessness: Christmas in the Lesbos refugee camp

Moria was burned, but the hope that many will end the misery of migrants and refugees on Lesbos has not been fulfilled. Around 7,500 people, including many children, pregnant women and the sick, live in the new temporary camp in the former Kara Tepe military training area (Greek: Mavrovouni). They share 400 Dixie baths, which sometimes flush in storms, and 200 showers, only a few with lukewarm water.

Aid organizations continue to warn: Kara Tepe is even worse than the Moria camp, which was destroyed in a major fire about 100 days ago and was seen as a symbol of the failure of European asylum policy. But the calls remain unheard.

“As far as the federal government knows, the Mavrovouni tent camp is currently equipped with winter-proof tents,” a recent statement from the Federal Interior Ministry said to the Green parliamentary group. How resistant to winter, describes a German doctor of the dpa: If it rained, a mud desert with rivers and lakes would develop. The camp is located directly on the sea and is therefore exposed to storms that tore tarps and destroyed tents. The helpers struggled to at least support the tents with wooden pallets so that they wouldn’t be flooded with mud the next time it rained.

The doctor prefers not to give his name. A new Greek government law prohibits helpers in refugee camps from speaking about their complaints to the media, as criticized by the Reporters Without Borders organization. Photographers are not allowed on the grounds that they could drag Corona into the warehouse. But Corona is still the least concern here. With all that people survive in the camp, it is not Corona who is disturbing the state of health, “says the doctor.

It is rather the inadequate supply and hopelessness. In the absence of washing facilities, scabies and lice are ubiquitous; Open wounds, abscesses, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses are often treated, as well as joint pain that arises from humidity and poor bedrooms. “The living conditions here make you sick,” says the doctor.

The Greek government defends itself against the accusations: for example, reports of rat bites in babies were fabricated, the media distorted the reality, the Migration Minister, Notis Mitarakis, had just visited the camp with local journalists, he announced on Monday the Ministry of Migration. There are problems, but they are being addressed, medical care is covered by the Red Cross and other organizations.

The German doctor cannot confirm incidents with babies and rats, but medical care is at the lowest level, he says. Patients have to be dismissed every day and people queue up at six in the morning. “Then there are the psychological problems, we have the whole spectrum, including regular suicide attempts.”

There are also violent outbreaks: A three-year-old girl is said to have been raped in the camp last week, according to SOS Children’s Villages. There is fear. “It is pitch black here, women dare not come out of their tents to go to the bathroom,” says the doctor. Because electricity, he explains, is only available from a generator and then only for an hour or two a day.

And all this despite the fact that, according to the EU Commission, Greece has received more than 2.8 billion euros of EU funds for migration management in the last five years. If you ask the Brussels authorities if they are satisfied with the conditions in Kara Tepe, they reply that the conditions remain “very difficult”. But they are working hard on a permanent solution. In early December, the authority signed a letter of intent with Greece that a new permanent camp should be built on Lesbos by September 2021. That is how long people will have to live in the interim camp.

The EU Commission highlights that after the Moria fire, Kara Tepe got up from the ground in “record time” and was able to take in all the people who had been left homeless. This was an absolute priority at the time. The Greek authorities and other organizations are currently working to improve conditions.

All tents are now winter hardy and heaters for each tent will be distributed soon. Hot water showers have also been installed and the number of showers and toilets has increased significantly since October. Flood protection is also being completed. Work is currently underway on the electrical, water and sewerage networks. The federal government has also sent eight truck convoys since September. The assessment of the situation in Brussels and Berlin is significantly different from that of the site.

Now a kind of exhibition warehouse will be built on Lesbos in September, with the participation of the EU Commission and various EU authorities. A location is currently being searched, they say. A warehouse will be created with areas for living, for newcomers, for medical care and for recreation, for example, for sports or games. Educational offerings are planned in manufactured homes, but also in a detention area. Instead of the deterrent effect of camps like Moria or Kara Tepe, at least if the EU Commission has its way, asylum procedures and returns should be carried out quickly.

European solidarity often initially invoked was only curtailed after the Moria fire. After a few days, ten European countries agreed to accept 400 minors from Greece. More followed over the weeks. As of November 23, there were offers for almost 2,700 resettlements from the island of Lesbos, according to the EU Commission. So far almost 1,000 of them have been made. In addition, almost 2,900 people were transferred to mainland Greece after the Moria fire.

In Germany, several federal states and municipalities would be willing to accept significantly more people than before. With the last contingents of 1703 seats, the federal states would have been prepared to host a total of 4253 people, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior. However, the federal interior minister, Horst Seehofer (CSU), prevents it. He insists that other European countries participate in the reception of immigrants from Greece. The further Germany ventures, the less willing to undertake elsewhere, so fearful.

Germany has welcomed 1,518 immigrants from Greece since March. However, the demands for a much more generous reception did not cease. Just a few days ago, more than 240 members of the Bundestag from all parliamentary groups, except the AfD, called in a “Christmas vote” not only for a “European solution”, but also for greater admission of immigrants from Greece to Germany.

“I know these conditions in Africa, in South America, but this is Europe”, sums up the German doctor. For young Europeans, the situation is extremely frustrating that such a field is possible in their civilized community of states. “Actually, the entire European boardroom should live here in the camp for a week and sleep in tents so they know what it’s like.” (aeg / sda / dpa)