The Greek government is rushing to complete the refugee registration centers and hospitality camps in order to stop pressure from certain European Union states that call for border closing.
However, there are citizen reactions at some of the sites, with locals claiming that the presence of thousands of migrants will downgrade the area.
Four of the five required hotspots on islands of the Aegean are completed while the fifth will be ready soon. The refugee registration centers on Lesbos, Chios, Samos and Leros are running, while the one on Kos is not completed yet due to violent reactions by local residents.
Refugees and migrants will be remaining at the hotspots for 24 hours. The first refugees who arrived at the Chios reception center were registered and given special bracelets that would give them access to continue their journey to northern Europe.
Refugees arriving at Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos will be transferred to the hospitality camp at Schisto, near Athens. Those arriving at Lesbos, will be transferred to the camp at Diavata, in northern Greece.
Economic migrants who don’t qualify for asylum will not be transferred to Greece’s mainland and will be sent back to Turkey, or the countries of origin.
Municipalities react to migrant camps
Mayors and residents of municipalities in Attica, Macedonia and Thrace are reacting to the establishment of migrant camps in their areas.
“We will not tolerate any more unilateral decisions by the government on refugee issues and we will not allow mayors to become victims of their irresponsible policy,” said president of Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), Giorgos Patoulis.
Patoulis was referring to the verbal attacks the Greek government launched against Delta Mayor Euthymios Fotopoulos who is against the establishment of a migrant camp at Diavata. In previous days, Diavata residents clashed with police protesting works on the former military camp that will serve as a migrant accommodation facility.
Similar reactions were generated in Thrace where the government is considering building a camp to accommodate 6,000 migrants.
Alexandroupolis Mayor Vangelis Lampakis said at a press conference, that he fears millions of migrants might end up stranded in Greece, most of them at the Evros prefecture. Lampakis said he fears that thousands of Muslim migrants would end up in Evros where a high number of Muslims already live.
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