Children ‘attempt suicide’ at refugee camp

CHILDREN as young as 10 have attempted suicide in a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, a humanitarian organisation has warned.

More than 8,000 refugees and migrants are living in filthy conditions in Moria refugee camp, which was designed to accommodate around 3,000 people.

Fights regularly break out between different nationalities, many people are suffering from depression and now Médecins Sans Frontières says it is dealing with children as young as 10 contemplating suicide.

“It’s something we’re seeing constantly,” Luca Fontana, Lesbos coordinator for MSF, told the BBC.

Aid agencies have appealed to the Greek government and the United Nations refugee agency to transfer children and their parents to the mainland.

“Despite the fact that we push to move these children to Athens, as soon as possible, it’s not happening. Those children are still here,” said Mr Fontana.

Last month MSF said that the situation inside the camp was “descending into chaos”, with frequent riots, clashes with Greek police and women subjected to sexual assault.

There are 72 people for each functioning lavatory and 84 people for every working shower. Other facilities are broken and covered in faeces.

“We have received an increase in the number of minors suffering from intense panic attacks, suicidal (thoughts) and suicide attempts,” said Dr Alessandro Barberio, an MSF psychiatrist at the clinic in Mytilini, the island’s main town.