More for Moria

NRC published an engaging report on the circumstances in the Moria refugee camp after the fire destroyed the camp. Former residents of the largest refugee camp in Europe have been wearing the same clothes for four days straight, with only occasional access to food. Some parents complain about their children collapsing, too weak to stand up. Despair has been increasing every day. Furthermore, supermarkets in the vicinity are closed, and refugees are not being permitted to walk to the nearby city. Fateme Karimi, 23 years old from Afghanistan, says: “Send us back, or let us travel on, but we don't want to be here anymore. Normal people wouldn't survive an hour in Moria, we survived a year, but not a day longer!” The military, responsible for food distribution, is trying to usher people into temporary tents with promises of food. Many refugees, though hungry, are refusing these requests, afraid of remaining in Moria - a camp lacking in warm water, bathrooms, and clean food. Furthermore, NGOs have limited access to Moria. Some NGO personnel were even stopped by the police.

Ekathimerini reports the visit of EU Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas to Lesbos. Schinas, responsible for the ‘Promoting our European Way of Life’ portfolio, advocates in favour of more accountability among the Member States: “We need true solidarity in our migration policy.” Adding to this, the Greek Commissioner said that all countries must offer asylum to refugees, not just larger countries or those at the external borders. In a meeting between Schinas and the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Schinas emphasised the need to avoid the mistakes of 2016: “Europe cannot fail twice on such an important issue.”

Independent writes about the suspicion of Greek authorities that the fire in Moria was deliberately lit by camp occupants. They suspect these occupants disagreed with the imposed quarantine measures following the discovery of Covid cases in the camp. On Tuesday, European Council President Charles Michel visited Lesbos. After having seen the devastation of the camp, he remarked that “this is a common European challenge.” Greek authorities are distributing flyers and sending text messages in an attempt to move more refugees to the temporary facility at Kara Tepe. Thousands are sleeping rough and remain untested, amplifying pre-existing concerns over coronavirus.

Publico reports that the Portuguese presidential candidate and MEP, Marisa Matias (GUE/NGL), will visit Moria later this week. The visit is, in Matias’s words, to demand that “people should not be left to die” and to “speak openly about the tragedy” by showing “solidarity to those whom the world is turning its back on.” Meanwhile, about 800 of the several thousands made homeless by the fire have been able to find shelter in the temporary centre on Lesbos, installed by Greek authorities. Most refugees, however, are sleeping on the streets, in fields, or abandoned buildings. They are worried that, once inside centres like these, they will not be allowed to leave the island. Publico also reports that Denmark, Austria, Finland, Sweden and Germany have provided Greece with tents, blankets, winter kits, and sleeping bags.