In an open letter to European Commission, European Council and heads of member states, over 70 NGOs demand EU support at Greek Border. They call for immediate action for the decongestion of the Aegean Islands following escalating violence and worsening humanitarian conditions for asylum seekers.
75 NGOs have now signed an open letter calling on Charles Michel and EU Leaders to act decisively to alleviate deteriorating conditions on the Aegean Islands.
As Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis introduces emergency measures to refuse asylum applications for 1 month, NGOs call on the Greek government and EU to de-escalate the situation and enact sensible, safe policy. At present, over 42,000 asylum seekers reside in the Island camps – 34% of whom are children – built with capacity for just 6,178.
Following a statement yesterday by European Council President Charles Michel, NGOs are calling on EU leaders to 1) immediately decongest the islands, 2) provide EU led support to Greece’s management of Reception and Identification Centres, and 3) create a shared register of legal, medical and protection staff.
Over the past 48 hours on the Aegean Islands, roadblocks have been set up at refugee camps, boat landings have massively increased and the first deaths have been reported due to increasingly hostile border guarding.
“After 5 years of neglectful policy, Europe must act according to its values and defend the human rights of refugees,” says Matthias Mertens, Campaign Coordinator of Europe Must Act. Jacob Warn, Action for Education Programme Coordinator in Greece reports,
“The scenes in the Greek island hotspots defy belief. But now, these normalised levels of humanitarian neglect are dramatically worsened by Turkey’s decision to stand down its border guard, sending thousands of refugees towards Greece’s already overburdened camps.”
Open Letter Calling on the EU for the Immediate Decongestion of the Aegean Islands
75 humanitarian NGOs are calling on Charles Michel, President of the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Heads of Member States to take immediate action for the decongestion of the Aegean Islands following escalating violence and worsening humanitarian conditions for asylum seekers.
NGOs working to support displaced communities on the Aegean Islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros have signed an open letter demanding immediate measures be put in place to safeguard asylum seekers’ rights to fair asylum processes and appropriate reception conditions. At present, over 42,000 asylum seekers reside in the Island camps – 34% of whom are children – built with capacity for just 6,178.
Following a statement yesterday by European Council President Charles Michel, NGOs are calling on EU leaders to 1) immediately decongest the islands, 2) provide EU led support to Greece’s management of Reception and Identification Centres, and 3) create a shared register of legal, medical and protection staff.
“After 5 years of neglectful policy, Europe must act according to its values and defend the human rights of refugees”, says Matthias Mertens, Campaign Coordinator of Europe Must Act. Jacob Warn, Action for Education Programme Coordinator in Greece reports, “The scenes in the Greek island hotspots defy belief. But now, these normalised levels of humanitarian neglect are dramatically worsened by Turkey’s decision to stand down its border guard, sending thousands of refugees towards Greece’s already overburdened camps.”
Submitted by Europe Must Act, an initiative of Action for Education
How come they write letters to EU and they don’t write a letter to SULTAN to get out of a sovereign
country,LIBYA