EU: MED-CRISIS (22-23.8.15)
23 August 2015
GREECE-MACDEONIA:
Syrians despair amid filth as way to north blocked (ekathimerini.com, link):
"The pressure further back along the refugee route shows no sign of easing, meaning more thousands are likely to arrive at the FYROM border in the next few days and weeks." And:
Migrants cross unhindered into Macedonia; trains, buses await (Reuters, link):
"The state eventually laid on extra trains, and buses arrived from across the country to take the migrants swiftly north to Serbia and the next step of a long journey from the Middle East, Africa and Asia."
GREECE-EU:
Greek president wants EU summit on refugee crisis (ekathimerini.com, link):
"President Prokopis Pavlopoulos has proposed that a European Union leaders’ summit be called to discuss a mounting migrant and refugee crisis and called for a closer cooperation with the United Nations."
Migrants crisis: More than 2,000 people rescued near Libya coast (BBC News, link):
"More than 2,000 migrants and refugees have been rescued from boats off the coast of Libya in one of the biggest single-day operations mounted, Italy's coastguards have said. Distress calls came from more than 20 vessels, AFP reported."
GREECE:
Overcrowded and bad conditions at Greek Refugee Centre in Lesbos (YouTube, Molyvos for Refugees, link):
"Endless waiting hours on the queue for the refugees from Afghanistan, in order to obtain a portion of food, during August at the Moria First Reception Centre in Mytilene, Lesvos island, Greece . Mohammed who is 24 years old from Kunduz Afghanistan and describes his bad experience during his staying there. The drinking water from the tap was hot and of low quality. So mainly for the children, they had to daily buy bottled water, at an expensive price from the one and only canteen on the area."
SWEDEN:
'Nazi-inspired' anti-immigration group becomes Sweden's most popular party (Independent, link)
GREECE:
FYROM loosens border as migrants get restless (ekathimerini.com, link):
"Authorities in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on Friday relaxed a crackdown along the country’s border with Greece as crowds of desperate migrants and refugees seeking to enter the Balkan nation grew larger and more restless..... On Friday afternoon, another ferry docked at Piraeus with around 2,300 refugees from the islands of the eastern Aegean. Lesvos, Kos and other islands are under increasing pressure as the influx from Turkey is relentless. Authorities on Lesvos said there were some 11,000 migrants on the island on Friday."
Germany condemns violent anti-refugee protest in Heidenau (DW, link):
"The German government has condemned the violence that broke out ahead of the arrival of asylum seekers at a temporary shelter in the east of the country. Several people were injured in scuffles with police." and:
Police clash with far-right over refugees (The Local.de, link):
"Several hundred people turned up in Heidenau, near Dresden, to demonstrate against the expected arrival of hundreds of refugees in a protest called by the far-right National Democratic Party." And:
Fresh clashes in Heidenau as de Maiziere condemns anti-refugee violence - German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has condemned violent protests against a refugee shelter in the eastern town of Heidenau. At the same time, he highlighted a spirit of giving demonstrated by other Germans. (DW, link) And:
German neo-Nazi protesters clash with police at new migrant shelter - Two consecutive nights of violence force police to seal off shelter near Dresden as Germany prepares for biggest influx of asylum seekers since second world war (Guardian, link)
Greece ferries thousands of refugees from islands to the mainland (Macedonian Information Agency, link)
Why are NGOs so reluctant to help Greece? (New Internationalist, July 2015, link):
"international observers are left wondering: how bad do conditions in Lesvos need to be before refugee aid agencies stop hiding behind the EU and start rolling up their sleeves?"
GERMANY:
Dresden riots: Protesters in Germany attack refugee buses shouting 'foreigners out' (Independent, link):
"Peaceful demonstrations began after news spread that the town was welcoming a large number of refugees who are set to be housed in an empty building. The protest was hijacked by a group of far-right radicals, many belonging to the militant National Democratic Party (NPD), considered a neo-Nazi organisation."
Mediterranean migrant crisis: Irish naval vessel LÉ Niamh rescues 225 people (BBC News, link):
"The migrants, including 12 children, were trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea on two inflatable vessels."
AI: MACEDONIA:
Macedonia: Calm at the border but uncertain fate for refugees and asylum-seekers’ onward journey (link) and:
Macedonia: Stop Police Violence Against Migrants (HRW, link)