Migrants at the Moria Camp on the Greek Island of Lesbos are bracing for the winter. The poor humanitarian conditions in the crowded camps have the migrants wondering what the Greek government will do.
As autumn and winter approach, the Greek Moria Camp faces a humanitarian crisis. Seasonal rains will soon hit the camp, which will turn the camp into mud. The camp may also be ill-equipped to handle the cold winds of winter. The camp currently hosts 8000 migrants with a capacity of only 3000. In total, AFP reported that 21,737 migrants arrived to Moria in 2017.
Stranded migrants are urging the authorities to take a stand. "Why don't the Greeks do anything when they get a lot of money to take care of us?" Jamal, a Somalian at the Moria camp told AFP. Jamal arrived in the camp three weeks ago with his 21-year old daughter. He, along with many other migrants in the camp, are eligible to go to mainland Greece.
Waiting in vain to go to the mainland
"Wait,wait, we always have to wait," said Sylvie, a migrant from the Democratic Republic of Congo told AFP. She added that she arrived at the camp with an eye injury, which has worsened during her time at the camp. "I don't think they have given me the right medicine," she added.
The mayor of the town of Moria, Spyros Galinos, warned that tension in the camp could lead to a "social explosion," he threatened. Locals in the area are also speaking out. "I feel ashamed because sometimes I feel angry that there are so many migrants on our island," Irini, an employee of one of the hotels told dpa.
The migrants often have to cue for hours in line to get their daily meals in the camp. The migrants also complain about the dirty toilets and hygiene infrastructure.
Children attempting suicide in the camp
In August, there were reports from Doctors without Borders that children in the camp were attempting suicide. The organization told Deutsche Welle that one-quarter of the children that live there contemplate suicide.
These children, who have fled war zones in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, not only flee from the trauma of conflict, but also suffer hardships on their journey to Europe, along with the deteriorating situation in the camp.
•••• ➤ Also read: Children attempting suicide at Greece's Moria Camp