Greece initiates transfer of refugees to secluded detention facilities
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Greece, with Turkish cooperation, aims to kickstart the regular expulsion of around 200 refugees each week, according to the country's immigration minister. Mitarachi announced this plan during a media briefing yesterday, stating that they will commence setting up closed refugee camps on several Aegean islands in March.
This decision comes in response to a string of violent incidents, mounting frustration among locals, and a series of sufferings endured by refugees in the overcrowded facilities across the Aegean islands throughout the past few months.
"By the start of March, we will kick things off by establishing closed-type refugee camps on five Aegean Sea islands," Mitarachi shared, specifying that the construction work will be completed by the end of summer. The camps will have the capacity to house up to 20,000 refugees, he added.
The minister emphasized that both the entry and exit of refugees will be controlled and restricted, and refugees will not be permitted to leave the camps during nighttime. Greece serves as a conduit, with thousands of refugees trying to reach the European Union from Turkey. Arrivals in Greece in 2019 were the highest since the Europe-Turkey agreement, brokered in March 2016, was enacted at the height of the Syrian war, with over 74,000 refugees making their way to Greece that year and nearly 11,000 in September alone.
Currently, Greece hosts more than 90,000 refugees, a figure that surpasses the combined total registered in Italy, Spain, Malta, and Cyprus. The living conditions of these refugees have been a subject of intense scrutiny, with reports indicating overcrowded camps housing up to six times their intended capacity and 300 people sharing a single toilet. The camps have been widely criticized, with doctors and human rights organizations raising concerns about unsanitary living conditions and inadequate healthcare.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have even branded the camps on the Aegean islands as the worst humanitarian sites globally and urged the relocation of refugees to the European mainland. Amnesty International has warned of the grave implications of Greece's plan to address the influx of refugees, insisting that the camps raise serious concerns about the implementation of appropriate safety measures.
Critics have pointed out that harsher immigration policies do not deter individuals from seeking refuge; instead, they force them to opt for more dangerous escape routes. Former Greek migration minister, Dimitris Vitas, has gone as far as calling the establishment of closed refugee camps a "stupid idea" destined to fail in its objective.
Additional Insights:- Greece's plan to create closed-type refugee camps faces criticism for potential human rights violations, given the documented overcrowding, subpar healthcare services, and lack of climate control in the existing facilities.- The suspension of cash assistance for asylum seekers has added to their vulnerabilities, with several reported deaths occurring among refugees in Greece due to insufficient access to medical services.- The Greek government has received pushback for prioritizing returns while failing to address allegations of mistreatment in existing facilities and improve the overall living conditions for refugees.- Human rights organizations argue that stricter immigration policies push refugees towards riskier escape routes, exacerbating the already dangerous journey for those fleeing conflict.
- The immigration minister of Greece, Mitarachi, announced plans for weekly deportation of approximately 200 refugees, with Turkish cooperation.
- These refugee camps will be established on five Aegean Sea islands starting in March, with a capacity to house up to 20,000 refugees.
- According to doctors and human rights organizations, the existing refugee camps in the Aegean islands are widely criticized due to unsanitary living conditions and inadequate healthcare.
- Doctor Without Borders (MSF) has labeled these camps as the worst humanitarian sites globally, urging the relocation of refugees to the European mainland.
- Amnesty International has warned about the potential human rights violations in the proposed closed-type refugee camps, expressing concerns over safety measures.
- Critics argue that harsher immigration policies, such as setting up closed camps, do not deter individuals from seeking refuge but instead force them to opt for more dangerous escape routes.
- Former Greek migration minister, Dimitris Vitas, has labeled the establishment of closed refugee camps as a "stupid idea" destined to fail in its objective.
- The General News and Crime & Justice sections of the news have reported the grave implications of Greece's plan to address the influx of refugees, with concerns about potential rights violations.
- In the context of political debates, critics have accused Greece of prioritizing returns while failing to address allegations of mistreatment in existing facilities and improve the overall living conditions for refugees.
