Mayors and residents stage protest in Athens for revised migrant detention plan

·

Mayors and residents of Greek islands hardest hit by the country’s refugee crisis have protested in central Athens against government plans to build a network of detention camps.

The officials called off a meeting that had been planned Thursday with the government and staged the demonstration outside parliament, joined by several hundred island residents.

Lesbos, Samos, and three other islands in the eastern Aegean Sea are struggling to cope with severe overcrowding at camps for refugees and migrants following a surge in arrivals from nearby Turkey.

The government earlier this week announced an initiative to build detention facilities on the five islands, arguing that the move is vital to properly organise the registration of asylum seekers and deport migrants denied international protection.

But island authorities are planning legal challenges and blockades at the sites where the new camps are planned to try to block construction.

Stratis Kytelis, mayor of Lesbos capital Mytilene, said the protests had started after the government failed to fulfill a pledge to drastically reduce the number of migrants on the island over the winter months.

“We don’t believe their assurances that all existing structures will be shut down,” Kytelis told the Associated Press.

“People on the islands … opened their homes and gave what little they had to help (refugees) but unfortunately, because of bad policies the situation is now out of control,” he said. “Europe has put up walls against us, and trapped immigrants and refugees on our island.”

A surge in migrant arrivals last year has caused serious overcrowding at existing refugee camps on the islands, with some 20,000 at a facility on Lesbos built to house 3,000.

Migrants on the islands are forbidden to travel to the Greek mainland without special permission under a 2016 agreement between the European Union and Turkey, aimed at limiting the number of illegal crossings to Europe.

Sourced by: AP News

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

National Schools Event Day One: Students clash in volleyball and futsal in Perth

The first day of competition for the 2025 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia National Schools Event officially commenced in Perth.

Stuart MacGill avoids jail over cocaine deal linked to Marino Sotiropoulos

Former Australian Test cricketer Stuart MacGill has avoided jail after being convicted of his involvement in a $330,000 cocaine deal.

Archbishop Makarios of Australia awarded Honorary Doctorate by University of Athens

Archbishop Makarios of Australia has been conferred an Honorary Doctorate by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).

Greek PM sends congratulatory letter to Anthony Albanese after election win

Greek Prime Minister extends his warm congratulations to Anthony Albanese following his re-election as Prime Minister of Australia.

Ange Postecoglou makes history as Spurs reach Europa League final

Ange Postecoglou has made football history, becoming the first male Greek Australian coach to lead a team to the Europa League final.

You May Also Like

Apple to expand its map experience by going to Greece and Denmark

Known as expansion number 20, Greece and Denmark are to be included in Apple's new developing map data project.

SYRIZA demands response for Erdogan’s ‘unconscionable’ Cyprus claims  

Greece’s main opposition party on Tuesday condemned recent comments made by Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan concerning Cyprus.

One dead, multiple injured in Patras motorway bridge collapse

Police arrested four employees of a construction company in connection with the collapse of a section of a motorway bridge in Patras.