Greek islanders strike over migrants as camps struggle

THOUSANDS of residents on Greek islands that host large migrant camps held protests yesterday demanding the immediate removal of asylum seekers.

The islands of Lesbos, Samos and Chios staged a general strike, shutting shops and public services, and rallying in central squares with many protesters waving Greek flags.

“We want our islands back, we want our lives back,” was the main slogan.

Efstratios Peppas, a 72-year-old from Lesbos, said: “[Asylum seekers] should be shared out across Greece.

“Europe must assume its responsibilities. It, too, must take migrants.”

Moria, the largest camp on Lesbos, is meant to hold 2,840 people yet it hosts more than 19,000 asylum seekers.

The overcrowding is equally severe on other islands and rights groups and medical charities have repeatedly criticised living conditions at the camps where violence is frequent.

Two young asylum seekers have been fatally stabbed in brawls at the Moria camp this month.

Just this week, an 18-year-old Afghan girl was seriously injured in a knife attack and remains in hospital. Three asylum seekers in Greek custody have committed suicide in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, 17 human rights groups warned of rising “discrimination and xenophobia” towards asylum seekers, who faced “serious consequences to their well-being and public health”.

“We demand the immediate shutdown of Moria,” read a banner carried in the Lesbos demonstration.

The government announced plans in November to build larger camps on Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros

‘Asylum seekers should be shared out across Greece. Europe must assume its responsibility, too’

which currently host nearly 42,000 migrants and refugees.

This has been opposed by local officials, who want smaller facilities after hosting thousands of asylum seekers for the past five years.

Last year, Greece was the main entry point into Europe for refugees. The UN refugee agency recorded more than 59,000 arrivals by sea and more than 14,000 via the land border with Turkey.

Already, more than 3,000 have arrived so far this year. Only a fraction are allowed passage to the Greek mainland, with most spending months in the camps waiting for their asylum applications to be processed.