EUROPE-MIGRANTS/LESBOS REFUGEES Authorities speed up refugees' relocation from Lesbos

Record ID: 140097

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/LESBOS REFUGEES Authorities speed up refugees' relocation from Lesbos
  • Date: 10th September 2015
  • Summary: LESBOS, GREECE (SEPTEMBER 10, 2015) (REUTERS) FERRY "EL VENIZELOS" IN MYTILINI PORT REFUGEES IN TENTS WITH OTHERS BOARDING FERRY IN THE BACKGROUND REFUGEES BOARDING "EL VENIZELOS" VARIOUS OF REFUGEES ON THE FERRY'S DECKS VARIOUS OF GREEK POLICE AND ARMY CHECKING REFUGEES' PAPERS AND TICKETS GREEK POLICE MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WHO COULDN'T BOARD VARIOUS OF FERRY LEAVING VARIOUS OF TENTS AT THE PORT (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE, OMAR, SAYING: "For a few days in the camp, I was afraid because the kids are playing with other kids and most of the kids has been diseased, skin diseases and a lot of things because of the hygiene situation which is very bad." VARIOUS OF REFUGEES SLEEPING ON THE GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE, BARLA EL SAKKA, SAYING: "You know you can see how we are sleeping. And you have to keep someone awake to guard your stuff, ok. (Reporter: And to keep you safe?) And to keep you safe of course, because different people you know with different, not all the fingers are the same, you know, problems happen. We saw a lot of problems in front of us, and you have to be careful, that's all. Someone has to be awake all the time." SYRIAN REFUGEE OMAR SYRIAN REFUGEE BARLA EL SAKKA (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE, OMAR, SAYING: "As we heard, Hungary is - they have like, till 15th of September this month, after that they will close the border, and if you pass the border you will be in jail for three years. We don't know is it right or wrong, it's a rumor, and it spread very fast in here, in this community, you can say. Actually, I'm worried about this because there is no way back and if we couldn't go forward, we will be stuck we don't know where." SYRIAN REFUGEES TALKING REFUGEE "CAMP" INSIDE THE PORT REFUGEES SLEEPING ON THE GROUND
  • Embargoed: 25th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4QDH8BZ54662B3WND2HDOIQ27
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: On the Greek island of Lesbos, which has become overwhelmed by the continuous arrivals of refugees and migrants, authorities and international institutions are trying to speed up the registration and evacuation process, putting in place special extra ferries to ship them to Athens and relieve the island.
    Late on Wednesday (September 9) night, a ferry called El Venizelos made an extra rotation from the island's capital Mytilini to the mainland, leaving just before 0200GMT (0500 local) with up to 2,500 migrants and refugees on board.
    A total of 10,000 people were evacuated between Monday (September 7) and Wednesday, according to local newspapers.
    Another special boat is expected to depart at 1000GMT on Thursday (September 10).
    For refugees, the sped-up process is a relief as they continue to hear news of measures being implemented by some countries that will make it more difficult for them to reach Germany, the ultimate destination of many refugees.
    33-year-old Omar, the father of two young children, and his friend Barla El Sakka, both from war-torn Syria, arrived 11 days ago from Turkey in Mytilini.
    They now have their ticket and will leave with the 1000GMT boat.
    "For a few days in the camp, I was afraid because the kids are playing with other kids and most of the kids has been diseased, skin diseases and a lot of things because of the hygiene situation which is very bad," Omar explained.
    "You know you can see how we are sleeping. And you have to keep someone awake to guard your stuff, ok. (Reporter: And to keep you safe?) And to keep you safe of course, because different people you know with different, not all the fingers are the same, you know, problems happen. We saw a lot of problems in front of us, and you have to be careful, that's all. Someone has to be awake all the time," his friend Barla added.
    But the feeling of relief is overshadowed by the anxiety surrounding what awaits them once they manage to leave Greece.
    "As we heard, Hungary is - they have like, till 15th of September this month, after that they will close the border, and if you pass the border you will be in jail for three years. We don't know is it right or wrong, it's a rumor, and it spread very fast in here, in this community, you can say. Actually, I'm worried about this because there is no way back and if we couldn't go forward, we will be stuck we don't know where," Omar said.
    Hungarian police captured a record 3,321 migrants on Wednesday, the highest daily figure so far this year, above the 3,313 detained last Thursday, data published on its website showed.
    The new arrivals brought the numbers of refugees and migrants looking to move on towards western Europe from Serbia through Hungary to nearly 22,000 this month alone.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register