The Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras, accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Immigration Yiannis Mouzalas inspected the progress of the reception identification centers (hotspots) in Chios and Leros.
Tsipras stressed that it’s Europe’s turn to honor its commitments. He stated that even though Greece is enduring difficult conditions the country and the government has managed to deliver on its promises and it’s now the other European member-states turn to implement their own obligations, as is also Turkey’s obligation to contribute substantially to reduce the refugee and immigration flows.
“Greece today is fulfilling a basic obligation towards a major European problem. An obligation to manage in a human way these large refugee and migration flows, especially in the islands,and simultaneously to identify all the refugees who tread their foot on European soil with solidarity and humanity “noted Tsipras.
Tsipras noted that the “Greek islands are in a difficult but historical position having to take on their shoulders the weight of all of Europe, I would say the weight of humanity, because we are facing unprecedented refugee flows”. Finally, he thanked and congratulated the local authorities, the islanders, and the Coast Guard that have helped save hundreds of lives in the Aegean noting that “this is a sea that we should not think of as a liquid tomb, we have to work to make it a sea of peace and solidarity”.
The Reception and Identification Center in Chios is created on the site of a former factory, there have already been 20 out of 75 cabins installed. Cabins will be fully built to accommodate a total of 1,112 refugees, while the hotspot in Leros is being built around a psychiatric hospital area. In the meantime, 900 refugees who are now on the island, are temporarily staying in a specially designed area with large tents at the harbor.
(With information and photos from Iefirmida.com)
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