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Amnesty International: 'Refugees in Lesvos Are Facing Dreadful Conditions'

lesvos2_2Weak coordination and severe shortages in facilities and staffing are creating dreadful conditions for the hundreds of refugees and migrants arriving daily on the Greek island of Lesvos, Amnesty International said in a report on Monday, after a research team returned from the island.
“Overloaded, under-resourced authorities are failing to cope with the dramatic increase in the number of people arriving on the island and must rely on local volunteers, NGO activists, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and tourists to step into the massive breach,” the organization declared in its report.
Amnesty International noted that in August alone, 33,000 refugees and migrants arrived on the island, which is seeing the highest number of arrivals in the entire country.
The organization also observed “very poor, unsanitary conditions and overcrowding” at the Moria immigration detention center on Lesvos, including “overflown toilets, lack of sheets and blankets, filthy and old mattresses and broken beds.” It said police explained that they lack the funds to improve conditions.
In its report, the organization said urgent EU financial and logistical support is needed to help Greek authorities set up an emergency response to manage the crisis on Lesvos and other Greek islands. Amnesty International said authorities need to urgently open the new First Reception Center in Moria and provide:
-More staff in mobile first reception units as well as more police, coast guards and interpreters to help deal with new arrivals.
-More buses to transport people to Mytilene, the Moria detention center and Kara Tepe camp.
-Better conditions at the informal camps and the port, with basic services such as health care, shelter, water and more toilets and showers.
-Effectively and quickly use EU funds to improve reception conditions.
-Official management for informal camps that have been set up to deal with the influx of people.
-New reception centers in the north of Lesvos where most refugees and migrants are arriving.
“The economic and refugee crises are converging on Lesvos and the other islands of the Aegean, with refugees and migrants paying the price,” said Gauri van Gulik, Amnesty International Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia.
“Announced EU funds can help Greece respond, but it is becoming clear that Greece also needs operational support to put these funds to use. Even more importantly, Europe needs to relieve pressure off Greece in the longer term by providing more safe and legal routes into Europe for those who need protection. As long as it fails to do so, Europe is directly responsible for what is unfolding on Lesvos and other frontline points of the refugee crisis,” she added.
While Kos, Chios and other Greek islands in the Aegean have also received refugees and migrants crossing over from Turkey, Lesvos has received the highest number, the report found. More than 93,000 already in 2015, more than seven times the 12,187 arrivals in all of 2014. More than 160,000 migrants and refugees have entered Greece in total so far this year, compared to 45,412 in all of 2014.
“The arduous odyssey faced by people fleeing conflict does not end on Greece’s shores. Forced to walk long distances in searing heat and stay in squalid camps or out in the open, refugees and asylum seekers see little alternative but to continue their journey, contributing to the disaster we’ve seen on the FYROM border in recent days,” said van Gulik.
(source: Amnesty International, ana-mpa)

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