Migrants moved off Greece's Lesbos island to ease overcrowding, situation 'at its limits' says UNHCR
Record ID:
1434362
Migrants moved off Greece's Lesbos island to ease overcrowding, situation 'at its limits' says UNHCR
- Title: Migrants moved off Greece's Lesbos island to ease overcrowding, situation 'at its limits' says UNHCR
- Date: 30th September 2019
- Summary: LESBOS, GREECE (SEPTEMBER 30, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES QUEUING AND BOARDING BUS AT MORIA CAMP WOMEN WAVING GOOD-BYE TO OTHER MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF UNHCR OFFICE IN LESBOS ASTRID CASTELEIN SAYING: "We welcome the transfer happening today organised by the government with support of the UNHCR, about 180 people will be travelling to the mainland to government run sites. This is welcomed because the situation is at its limits." MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES GATHERED OUTSIDE MORIA CAMP, POLICE BUS WITH GREEK FLAG PAINTED ON THE REAR WINDOW WOMEN WEARING HEADSCARVES HUGGING, KISSING AND CRYING WOMAN CRYING WOMEN EMBRACING AND CRYING VARIOUS OF CHILDREN EMBRACING AND CRYING VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN BUS BUS LEAVING (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF UNHCR OFFICE IN LESBOS ASTRID CASTELEIN SAYING: "The site is currently hosting 12,200 people for a standard capacity, according to UNHCR, (of) about 2,300, so this is six times more the actual capacity that it can hold, which results in impacting on the security and on the protection risk of the asylum seekers hosted in this site." VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES GATHERED AT THE PORT OF LESBOS VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES CARRYING THEIR BELONGINGS AND WALKING TOWARDS FERRY VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES QUEUING OUTSIDE FERRY VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES CARRYING THEIR BELONGINGS IN LARGE PLASTIC BAGS OVER THEIR HEADS, WALKING IN FERRY VARIOUS OF WOMAN HOLDING BABY IN HER ARMS VARIOUS OF WOMAN CARRYING BABY ENTERING FERRY MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES ON FERRY VARIOUS OF FERRY LEAVING
- Embargoed: 14th October 2019 17:55
- Keywords: Lesbos Moria camp migrants refugees transfer mainland
- Location: No-Data-Available
- City: No-Data-Available
- Country: Greece
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AYUO37R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Greece on Monday (September 30) moved 180 migrants and refugees from Lesbos island to ease overcrowding at a migrant camp where a deadly fire killed one person and wounded 17.
Violent clashes broke out at Moria camp on Sunday after the fire broke out inside a container used to house the migrants.
The migrants were to be transferred by ferry and placed in camps or other accommodation on the mainland.
The country is witnessing a new surge in arrivals from Turkey.
UNHCR spokesperson on Lesbos Astrid Castelein said the situation "is at its limits," adding there was a risk to safety. About 12,200 migrants and refugees are in Moria camp at the moment. It can only hold 2,300, Castelein said.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a cabinet meeting on Monday where measures such as increasing transfers to the mainland, strengthening border patrols at sea, returning those whose asylum requests are rejected, and making the asylum system more efficient were discussed.
(Production: Vassilis Triandafyllou, Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Idyli Tsakiri) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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