Detained immigrants launch hunger strike in northern Greece

Some 100 undocumented immigrants on Tuesday launched a hunger strike at a reception center in Paranesti, in the northern regional unit of Drama, demanding to be released after having been issued with documents suspending their deportation.

According to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, the detainees were recently transferred to the center from the eastern Aegean island of Samos.

Most hail from Iraq, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan and are keen to be reunited with their families, whose welfare they have expressed concerns about, sources said.

According to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), some of the migrants claim to have fallen victim to discriminatory tactics by staff at the center who are alleged to have released other migrants with similar appeals.