Mobilization tomorrow at Ritsona Camp
Tomorrow at 12pm there will be a mobilization by a part of the migrants living in the Ritsona camp. Threats to evict refugees continue, while new families without accommodation have arrived at the camps, living in tents and in miserable conditions, as has been the case with other families in the past. After the previous mobilization at Ritsona camp in which we participated, the state and institutional bodies also threaten migrants for their participation in demonstrations and political debates, saying that coordinated actions with other camps and cities should not take place, because the situation may get “out of control”.
Regarding the situation at Ritsona camp, we have posted updates following our repeated visits to the camp.
Update from Eleonas
1st update
At a meeting of the Camp Coordination yesterday, the management threatened that from today on no food will be handed out to the people and no-one will be allowed to enter the camp to hand out food. In particular, people from organizations and groups asked the administration if it would be allowed to enter to take up the food supply and the answer was negative.
2nd update
The camp manager refused to accept responsibility for the people outside. They said the people are not registered… “maybe they will register them” but not for sleeping there only for TAX number etc. They even stop them from using the toilet inside. They get food from Project Elea (an NGO inside). The camp manager said they are waiting for a decision from Ministry of Migration…
Also, the people staying in Eleonas in the new tents (evicted from Victoria last Monday) have been told that from tomorrow they will not be given food. This is because they refused to leave Eleonas and go to Serres. They were also given a paper to sign (photo below). We don’t know if they signed.
Update from Elefsina camp
According to recent aricles, the ministry of migration and asylum suddenly decided to shut down elefsina camp and turn it into a closed center for people participating in IOM’s programme for voluntary returns.
According to the ministry’s plan, 153 people from Εlefsina were expected to board buses and get moved to northern Greece, in Kavala, Serres etc. Another 50 people were not included in the transfer lists because they will be evicted anyway, so they will have nowhere to go. Eventually, the plan of the Ministry of Immigration to evacuate the camp and transfer and evict the migrants was canceled due to “operational issues”. From what we understand, this is probably due to the publication of the issue in the press, the refusal of EODY to transfer so many people during the coronavirus period and the opposition of other structures to accept migrants.However, what is unofficially heard from the Ministry of Immigration and IOM is that the plan will be carried out gradually until September. Migrants are, of course, not adequately informed by any official body.
قررت وزارة الهجرة اليونانية ترحيل كل الاجئين من كامب “الفسينا” الى معسكرات اخرى في شمال البلاد.في معسكر(كامب الفسينا)يوجد 200 لاجئ (32 اسرة)،153 شخص سياخذونهم الى شمال اليونان وال50 شخص الى الشوارع.
حتى الان لم يخبروا الاجئين عن هذا القرار لان وزارة الهجرة لم تحدد متى ستنفز القرار.
يوجد هذا الخبر في مواقع الكترونية يونانية
Update from Skaramangas camp
After the repression of migrants’ mobilization with teargas just outside the camp a few days ago, the received threats form the camp’s administration that if they mobilize again water, elecricity and their allowance will be cut. There are 2,300 people living in the camp, and every day, allegedly due to the coronavirus, up to 100 people can come out. They have to carry a paper which they need to return to the security entrance by 7 pm in order to enter (see photo).