Human Rights Watch is denouncing living conditions for asylum seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos, where it said the terrible conditions could worsen into a humanitarian disaster as winter arrives.
The already dire conditions in the overcrowded Moria camp for asylum seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos may deteriorate into a full-blown humanitarian disaster as winter approaches unless urgent action is taken, said Human Rights Watch (HRW).
"Thousands of people seeking protection in Europe are deprived of their most basic rights to humane and dignified treatment on Lesbos," said Todor Gardos, Europe researcher at HRW. "The EU-backed containment policy is aggravating long-lasting suffering of asylum seekers, turning Lesbos into an open-air prison."
Overcrowding and desperation on Lesbos
On a visit to Lesbos from October 16 to 17, 2018, HRW witnessed the overcrowding, unsuitable accommodations, and despair in Moria camp and the adjacent overspill camp known as the Olive Grove. HRW interviewed 26 asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Somalia, including families and women and men traveling alone.
At the time of the visit, over 7,200 asylum seekers were registered in Moria, well over double the camp's official capacity of 3,100. Numbers had dropped to around 6,500 by early November. HRW said an estimated 18,000 asylum seekers are confined to Greek islands, most of them on Lesbos and Samos; just over 50 percent are women and children.
Measures for transfers and improved conditions on the islands
While Greek authorities are directly responsible for the containment policy and the deplorable conditions on the islands, the EU bears collective responsibility for its failure to demonstrate solidarity with Greece and to move asylum seekers out of Greece for processing elsewhere, HRW said.
On October 23, the Portuguese government announced that it had entered into a bilateral agreement for a pilot project to transfer 100 refugees from Greece to the country. If successful, Portugal could accept 1,000 people over the next year.
"Other EU countries should emulate Portugal's initiative," HRW said. "Greek authorities should urgently improve living conditions on Lesbos and other Aegean islands in preparation for winter to ensure the health and safety of those who remain, including by ensuring adequate and secure shelter, safe drinking water and sanitation, an enabling environment for good hygiene, and protection," HRW said.