GREECE/FILE: UNHCR sounds alarm over racial violence in Greece amidst the financial crisis

Record ID: 348534

  • Title: GREECE/FILE: UNHCR sounds alarm over racial violence in Greece amidst the financial crisis
  • Date: 1st June 2012
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF IMMIGRANTS RUSHING INTO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION (IOM) OFFICE TO GET AHEAD OF THE QUEUE IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR ASSISTED REPATRIATION
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Crime,Economy
  • Reuters ID: LVAA203Y01A1FWCQU4F1UVF2X7P2
  • Story Text: The United Nations' High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Greece on Thursday (May 31) sounded an alarm over what it said was the rise of racist violence in Greece, where large numbers of migrants arrive every year. The group say the financial crisis that has swept the country has weakened efforts to tackle the issue.
    Giorgos Tsarbopoulos, the head of the UNHCR Greece said that he was concerned by the rise in incidents over the course of the past 18 months. He described the situation as very serious.
    "I would say very serious since apart from the continuous pressure of mixed migration movements at the borders, Greece being the main gate today to the European Union for thousands of refugees and migrants, we also have the financial crisis you know, and also an increase of incidents of racist violence in the last one and a half years," he told Reuters.
    The financial crisis that has seen Greece's economy contract sharply and unemployment rise dramatically to 21 percent, had worsened existing tensions.
    "The financial crisis creates a climate where slogans and xenophobic rhetoric and easy solutions, that are not solutions of course, of 'kick them out, let's take the rules in our hands' can more easily be propagated in a population which faces problems regarding security and public order," he added.
    Tsarbopoulos called on the Greek government and the European Union (EU) to implement measures to deal swiftly with illegal immigrants and refugees. Due to the economic crisis Greece has had difficulties implementing a program designed alongside the EU to tackle illegal immigration, due to a shortage of funding. That includes funds to repatriate illegal immigrants voluntarily and screening refugees faster for asylum.
    Tsarbopoulos condemned the violence.
    "We have daily incidents of groups of supposed angry citizens but also of extremist far right groups instigating and hunting migrants just because of the colour of their skin or of their nationality. What can I say? This is totally unacceptable. We can understand the problems but violence cannot be a way of solving anything and of course it's a crime. And it's also a threat to the rule of law and democracy," he said.
    Before elections on May 6 the government began sweeping up illegal immigrants and placing them in newly built detention centres after an outcry by residents over the congestion of illegals, mainly in main cities, which the residents blamed for crime. It raised support for the ultra-nationalist Golden Dawn Party, which has an anti-immigration platform, and who received seven percent of the vote in the election.
    The latest opinion polls show that while their support has fallen slightly, they may still retain members in the assembly.
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