The worsening refugee crisis is expected to dominate the Greek government’s attention this week as tens of thousands of third countries nationals – mostly from the Mideast, but also numerous groups from other third world countries – were stranded in the country.
So-called “hot spots” and other temporary shelters were reported at full capacity over the weekend, while makeshift tents were now seen by the dozens in a handful of central Athens squares, especially in Victoria Square, which usually attracts Afghan illegal migrants that entered the country via Turkey.
Another four refugee hosting centers were expected to open in northern Greece (Kilkis and Kavala prefectures) along with sports facilities in the greater Athens area.
The situation worsened after authorities in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM) closed a border crossing at the Idomeni site for Syrian and Iraqi nationals seeking passage towards other west and northern European countries. The result is that roughly, 7,000 third country nationals have congregated on the Greek side of the frontier and on a sliver of “no man’s land”. Some 300 Iraqis and Syrians had entered the neighboring country earlier on Sunday.
The Skopje government has toughened border security and reiterated that it will only allow people who can prove they are from Syria and Iraq to pass, and only in specific numbers per day. The measure has precluded Afghans and other nationals, hailing from as far away as Morocco and Bangladesh, to take advantage of the refugee crisis for unhindered passage to preferred European destinations, such as Germany or Sweden.
Meanwhile, another 1,810 third country nationals were transported to the port of Piraeus on Monday morning aboard a passenger ferry from the eastern Aegean islands of Lesvos and Hios, two of Greece’s islands favored by traffickers illegally off-loading people after ferrying them from Turkish territory.
