EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GREECE-KOS CHAOS Fights break out among migrants on Greek island of Kos

Record ID: 144285

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GREECE-KOS CHAOS Fights break out among migrants on Greek island of Kos
  • Date: 11th August 2015
  • Summary: KOS, GREECE (AUGUST 11, 2015) (REUTERS) WOMAN FAINTING / MEN SCUFFLING / MAN COLLAPSING TO THE GROUND AND FLAILING ARMS AND LEGS MAN POURING WATER OVER HEAD OF DISTRESSED WOMAN VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS PUSHING AND SHOVING TOWARD STADIUM ENTRANCE AS MEN BLOCKING THE DOORWAY ATTEMPT TO HOLD THEM BACK MEN TRYING TO HELP WOMAN WHO FAINTED (SOUNDBITE (English) SYRIAN MIGRANT, MUHAMMAD SHAREEF AWARD, SAYING: "I can't see we are in Europe. I see we are in a third world countries. No toilets, no water. People have been waiting for more than 10 days. What can I say, is this Europe? If this is Europe, we're going back to Syria. If this is Europe, we are going back to Syria, we go to Mali, we go to Yemen. MAN LIFTING BABY ABOVE THE CROWD MAN HOLDING CHILD TRYING TO OPEN DOOR TO STADIUM VARIOUS OF DISTRESSED CHILD QUEUING WITH HER FAMILY OUTSIDE STADIUM (SOUNDBITE (English) SYRIAN MIGRANT, SAT TAM ALBADR, SAYING: "I feel miserable about this crowded people. We want only to go from this island because we live in a miserable way. No bathroom, no hotels, no places to sleep in. Everything is expensive here. More expensive than usual. We only want to go from this Island." BOY LEANING OVER WALL WATCHING MIGRANTS TRYING TO GAIN ENTRY INTO STADIUM VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS QUEUING TO GET INTO STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE, HRANT KHAJO, SAYING: "I am sorry because so many people came here and the government can't control us. Maybe they know that we come so much -- for that they can't cover us. The United Nations must look after us. Nobody help us here." VARIOUS OF SYRIAN PASSPORTS IN THE HANDS OF MIGRANTS MIGRANTS QUEUING VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS QUEUING OUTSIDE THE STADIUM
  • Embargoed: 26th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8105MCKA0UORDIXYJQTM6YGF9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Scuffles broke out on Tuesday (August 11) among migrants on the Greek island of Kos, where overwhelmed authorities are struggling to cope with the arrival of hundreds of people on its shores everyday.
    There were chaotic scenes outside Kos stadium as hundreds of migrants fought to be registered.
    Many complained that the authorities had been unable to provide them with essentials, including water, shelter, food and sanitation.
    As the crowd surged forward toward the door, a woman passed out in the heat while another man appeared to collapse. Young children sobbed and clung to their families.
    Muhammad Shareef, who fled his native Syria, described conditions on the island as "third world".
    "I can't see we are in Europe. I see we are in a third world countries. No toilets, no water. People have been waiting for more than 10 days. What can I say, is this Europe? If this is Europe, we're going back to Syria. If this is Europe, we are going back to Syria, we go to Mali, we go to to Yemen," he said.
    The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has called on Greece to take control of the "total chaos" on Mediterranean islands, where thousands of migrants have landed.
    Syrian migrant Sat Tam Albadr had been queuing since dawn to secure the registration which will allow him to leave the island and travel to the Greek capital Athens.
    "I feel miserable about this crowded people. We want only to go from this island because we live in a miserable way. No bathroom, no hotels, no places to sleep in. Everything is expensive here."
    Despite the situation, Syrian refugee, Hrant Khajo, said he felt sorry for Greece.
    "I am sorry because so many people came here and the government cannot control us. Maybe they know that we come so much, for that they can't cover us. The United Nations must look after us. Nobody help us here," he said.
    The UNHCR estimates Greece has received more than 107,000 refugees and migrants this year, more than double its 43,500 intake of 2014. The refugee agency said about 124,000 have arrived this year by sea, many via Turkey, and is calling on Greece and the European Union to act to end the crisis.
    Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said last week that his country's infrastructure simply cannot handle the thousands of migrants landing on its shores from places like war-torn Syria and Afghanistan and needs EU help.
    The EU has sought to share the burden of the refugees across its member countries, but the response has been mixed. EU leaders have pledged to relocate 16,000 migrants over two years.
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