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Growing refugee bottleneck in Greece leads to warning of humanitarian crisis Growing refugee bottleneck in Greece leads to warning of humanitarian crisis
(35 minutes later)
The bottleneck of refugees in Greece escalated on Sunday as regional officials spoke of a humanitarian crisison the country’s northern border where 14,000 men, women and children were estimated to be trapped as a result of Macedonia sealing the border.The bottleneck of refugees in Greece escalated on Sunday as regional officials spoke of a humanitarian crisison the country’s northern border where 14,000 men, women and children were estimated to be trapped as a result of Macedonia sealing the border.
As the EU’s chief immigration policy maker, Dimitris Avramopoulos predicted that some 100,000 migrants and refugees would reach the country this month alone, prime minister Alexis Tsipras’s leftist-led government demanded that Europe share the burden of handling the crisis. Around 3,000 people are landing on Greek shores from Turkey every day, officials say. As the EU’s chief immigration policy maker Dimitris Avramopoulos predicted approximately 100,000 migrants and refugees would reach the country this month alone, Alexis Tsipras’s leftist-led government demanded Europe share the burden of handling the crisis. About 3,000 people are landing on Greek shores from Turkey every day, officials say.
“Europe is in the midst of a nervous crisis, primarily for reasons of political weakness,” Tsipras told top cadres in his Syriza party on Sunday. He slammed the decision of eastern European and Balkan states to tighten restrictions, a move that has left close to 35,000 people now stranded in Greece. “Europe is in the midst of a nervous crisis, primarily for reasons of political weakness,” the prime minister told top cadres in his Syriza party on Sunday. Tsipras slammed the decision of eastern European and Balkan states to tighten restrictions, a move that has left close to 35,000 people now stranded in Greece.
With the government ill-prepared for such numbers, officials are scrambling to manage the flows. More than 5,000 people who are quarantined on Aegean islands, which have borne the brunt of the influx, are restless to get to Athens – itself under immense pressure to house the new arrivals. With the government ill-prepared for such numbers, officials are scrambling to manage the flows. More than 5,000 people quarantined on Aegean islands – which have borne the brunt of the influx – are restless to get to Athens , itself under immense pressure to house the new arrivals.
“We have to prepare ourselves for a big number,” the migration minister Yannis Mouzalas also said in an address before the governing party’s central committee. “We are creating 10,000 new places [to accommodate them] every week.” “We have to prepare ourselves for a big number,” the migration minister, Yannis Mouzalas, said in an address before the governing party’s central committee. “We are creating 10,000 new places [to accommodate them] every week.”
Reception facilities are being set up in abandoned military barracks, public buildings, disused Olympic stadiums, hotels, parks and summer camps.Reception facilities are being set up in abandoned military barracks, public buildings, disused Olympic stadiums, hotels, parks and summer camps.
By the weekend more than 20,000 men, women and children had gathered in northern Greece, with the vast majority amassed around Idomeni, on the border the country shares with the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. “We can no longer shoulder this strain by ourselves,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the region’s governor. “It’s a huge humanitarian crisis. I have [asked] the government to declare a state of emergency in the area. This cannot continue for much longer.”By the weekend more than 20,000 men, women and children had gathered in northern Greece, with the vast majority amassed around Idomeni, on the border the country shares with the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. “We can no longer shoulder this strain by ourselves,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the region’s governor. “It’s a huge humanitarian crisis. I have [asked] the government to declare a state of emergency in the area. This cannot continue for much longer.”
NGOs said that more than 13,000 asylum seekers and migrants living in flimsy tents in an improvised camp on the border were having to make do with 24 showers and 140 toilet cubicles. Children, including newborns, had been rushed to hospital with influenza and dysentery problems.NGOs said that more than 13,000 asylum seekers and migrants living in flimsy tents in an improvised camp on the border were having to make do with 24 showers and 140 toilet cubicles. Children, including newborns, had been rushed to hospital with influenza and dysentery problems.
Related: Double crisis deepens despair in Greece’s ‘warehouse of souls’Related: Double crisis deepens despair in Greece’s ‘warehouse of souls’
Tensions are also mounting. On Sunday several local communities said they would take court action to stop hosting facilities being established for refugees. In the midst of their worst economic crisis in modern times, with poverty and unemployment levels at record heights, many Greeks have found it hard to accept that their country is no longer a transit nation but one where Syrians, Afghans, Iraqis and Iranians are likely to settle for years to come. Tensions mounted on Sunday as several local communities said they would take court action to stop hosting facilities being established for refugees. Amid the worst economic crisis in modern times, with poverty and unemployment levels at record heights, many Greeks have found it hard to accept that their country is no longer a transit nation but one where Syrians, Afghans, Iraqis and Iranians are likely to settle for years to come.
“In this time of compounded humanitarian and security crises, Greece is being pummelled by its geography,” said John Sitilides, a geopolitical strategist in Washington DC.“In this time of compounded humanitarian and security crises, Greece is being pummelled by its geography,” said John Sitilides, a geopolitical strategist in Washington DC.
Trapped in a geopolitical vice and with the country reeling from its longest recession in post-war history, Greece’s social fabric could easily be torn apart.Trapped in a geopolitical vice and with the country reeling from its longest recession in post-war history, Greece’s social fabric could easily be torn apart.
“The opportunity for nativists such as Golden Dawn to further exacerbate social and economic tensions for political gain is alarmingly significant,” Sitilides said, referring to the neo-fascist party that is Greece’s third biggest political force.“The opportunity for nativists such as Golden Dawn to further exacerbate social and economic tensions for political gain is alarmingly significant,” Sitilides said, referring to the neo-fascist party that is Greece’s third biggest political force.