EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GREECE-RECEPTION CENTRE Greek gov't. minister says refugee crisis is 'slow burning' fuse
Record ID:
143369
EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GREECE-RECEPTION CENTRE Greek gov't. minister says refugee crisis is 'slow burning' fuse
- Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GREECE-RECEPTION CENTRE Greek gov't. minister says refugee crisis is 'slow burning' fuse
- Date: 19th August 2015
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (AUGUST 19, 2015) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE TO NEW MIGRANT RECEPTION CENTRE IN ATHENS SUBURB OF ELEONAS VARIOUS OF MIGRANT CHILDREN PLAYING WITH RED CROSS WORKERS IN CENTRE IN PLAY AREA LITTLE GIRL SITTING WITH HEAD IN HER HANDS BY RECYCLE BINS VARIOUS OF CHILDREN IN PLAY AREA GREEK CIVIL PROTECTION MINISTER, YANNIS PANOUSIS, SITTING DOWN FOR NEWS CONFERENCE AT CENTRE IN BETWEEN STATE MINISTER ALEKOS FLAMBOURARIS, AND IMMIGRATION MINISTER, TASIA CHRISTODOULOPOULOU (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) GREEK CIVIL PROTECTION MINISTER, YANNIS PANOUSIS, SAYING: "It is certain that if there is no intervention from the United Nations, the European Union and others across the world, Greece will have a slow-burning bomb at its foundations." VARIOUS OF MIGRANT WOMAN HANGING CLOTHES TO DRY IN FENCE OUTSIDE PREFABRICATED HOMES VARIOUS OF TWO BUNK BEDS INSIDE HOME VARIOUS OF TOILET AND SHOWER INSIDE HOME (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) GREEK DEPUTY LABOUR MINISTER, THEANO FOTIOU, SAYING: "This is a small first step, which is happening for the first time in our country. Before today we always shoved this issue under the rug." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN PLAYING WITH TOY RAILROAD VARIOUS OF GIRL AT ARTS AND CRAFTS TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) GREEK STATE MINISTER, ALEKOS FLABOURARIS, SAYING: "This isn't just a problem for Greece or the countries of the south. It's a problem for Europe and the world, which will soon be forced to deal this problem." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN'S DRAWINGS HANGING LITTLE GIRL LITTLE GIRL MAKING THE VICTORY SIGN AND SAYING "HELLO" IN GREEK AND IN ENGLISH VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS SITTING OUTSIDE HOUSES VARIOUS OF FIRST AID CENTRE MEDICINE IN CENTRE MIGRANTS WALKING TOWARDS THEIR HOME/ MOON ABOVE MIGRANTS MOON MOON OVER CENTRE
- Embargoed: 3rd September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAKV2I1II60XV3EBXLTZ3F6J7I
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Greece's civil protection minister warned on Wednesday (August 19) that the thousands of refugees arriving on the Aegean islands in recent months was a "slow-burning" fuse threatening to engulf the country during a tour of Greece's first migrant hospitality centre.
On top of its economic crisis, the cash-strapped country has been battling a huge influx in migrants arriving by boat from neighbouring Turkey in recent weeks. About 21,000 people landed on Greek shores last week alone, prompting Athens to appeal to the European Union for help.
"It is certain that if there is no intervention from the United Nations, the European Union and others across the world, Greece will have a slow-burning bomb at its foundations," said civil protection minister Yannis Panousis.
The centre, which can house up to 720 migrants opened it doors on Sunday, moving migrants away from a public park where they had been surviving in squalid conditions.
About 250 mainly Afghan migrants are living in the camp, which also hosts a playground and a clinic. Social workers visit regularly and the migrants may stay as long as they want, with no movement restrictions. The 90 prefabricated homes can host up to four people and are equipped with hot water, electricity and air conditioning. Meals is also provided.
"This is a small first step, which is happening for the first time in our country. Before today we always shoved this issue under the rug," said Greece's deputy labour minister, Theano Fotiou, at a news conference at the centre.
Many migrants that arrived in in the capital have been forced to fend for themselves as Athens had no official site or centre to deal with them as Greece's leftist-led coalition closed detention camps where migrants were being indefinitely detained under the previous administration.
Many of the arrivals have escaped the Syrian civil war, making their way through Turkey before crossing the narrow stretch of water to Kos and other Greek islands in inflatable dinghies and small boats to seek refuge in the EU.
With conditions on Kos becoming increasingly chaotic, the Greek government chartered the car ferry Eleftherios Venizelos last week to accommodate up to 2,500 Syrians and ease the pressure on the island. Thousands of other migrants from Asia, Africa and elsewhere in the Middle East are sleeping in abandoned buildings or in the open.
The Greek Red Cross said it was delivering humanitarian aid worth 300,000 Swiss francs ($309,629) to people on Kos and so far some 300-400 migrants had been given survival kits and packages for infants and women.
"This isn't just a problem for Greece or the countries of the south. Its a problem for Europe and the world, which will soon be forced to deal this problem," said state minister Alekos Flabouraris.
The ferry carrying the Syrian refugees was heading to the Greek mainland from islands in the Aegean Sea on Wednesday amid confusion over its final destination and the fate of passengers.
Last week's arrivals in Greece were equal to almost half the number for all of 2014 and bring the total for this year to 160,000. This has strained an ill-prepared reception system that relies heavily on volunteers. The Syrians received priority in boarding the ferry as they are regarded as refugees due to their country's four-year-old civil war.
Arrivals from other countries such as Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, regarded as economic migrants, are camping out in filthy conditions, leading to sporadic clashes and brawls. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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