Author: reliefweb.int | 14 March 2019
The European Union’s deal with Turkey to return “irregular” migrants has led to policies and practices in Greece that are short-sighted, ineffective and dangerous, 25 organisations including Oxfam said today ahead of the deal’s third anniversary on Monday.
In an open letter to European leaders, they said that as many as 20,000 people have been stranded in unsafe, unhygienic and inhumane conditions in EU camps on the Greek islands in 2018.
There are currently around 12,000 people – twice the maximum capacity – living in overcrowded reception centres, often in unheated tents and containers with limited access to running water and electricity. They are exposed to violence, harassment and exploitation, without proper security or protection.