Situation in refugee camps remains tense

The readmission operation of refugees and migrants from Greek islands to Turkey has begun with 202 people being already sent back, while the situation in Idomeni and Piraeus as well as in other hotspots remains tense.

The returns on Monday were exclusively of individuals that had not wished to submit asylum applications in Greece and were from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Ivory Coast and Congo.

European Commission welcomed the beginning of readmission operation with EU spokesman Margaritis Schinas saying that Monday’s returns and resettlements were the “first visible step” in the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement of March 18.

However, the readmission process has caused great tension among the immigrants and refugees who are staying at makeshift camps and hotspots, since they do not want to return to Turkey but to remain in Greece until they find a way to continue their journey to Europe.

Many refugees and immigrants continue to refuse leaving Idomeni and Piraeus for other hosting facilities in several parts of the country.

In Idomeni, protesting refugees blocked the national highway between Thessaloniki and the Evzones border crossing in both directions, demanding the opening of the borders, while occupying also the railway rails causing the reactions of the locals.

Moreover, Health Minister Andreas Xanthos warned of a disease breakout, pointing out that as long as the refugees continue staying in the makeshift camps of Idomeni and Piraeus, there is a great risk of a disease outbreak noting, though, that the ministry does whatever it can to prevent this from happening.