Thursday, September 22, 2016

Greece to House Refugees on Ferries Following Massive Fire at Moria Camp

Greece's merchant marine ministry said the ships are needed to satisfy an “immediate and urgent need to host, cater and perhaps transfer” at least 1,000 people displaced after the Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesbos was destroyed by fire.



Thodoris Dritsas, minister of shipping and island policy, told Deutsche Welle (DW) that ethnic groups will remain separated on the ships, as it is suspected that ethnic tensions may have played a role in the fire that destroyed nearly 60 percent of the camp, displacing over 4,000 people.

He added that families will be given priority in the temporary accommodations, and those who are not able to be housed on the vessels will be lodged in new tents.

There were no casualties reported as a result of the fire, and an Athens police official said nine people were arrested in connection with the incident, on suspicion of causing civil unrest and destroying property.

The Moria refugee camp had problems before the blaze, including issues of scarcity, squalor and overcrowding.

Fred Morlet, director of volunteer coordination at the camp told DW that Moria was "the worst refugee camp in the world."
  [sputniknews.com]
21/9/16

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