The fire broke out on the night from Sunday to Monday in the abandoned buildings of the center for the reception of migrants in Vati, on the island of Samos.
Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis opened a new camp on Samos on Saturday, announcing that similar facilities will open in a few months on Kos and Leros, and in 2022 on Chios and Lesvos.
A group of firefighters of 11 people, in 5 fire trucks, managed to cope with the fire. According to official figures, no one was hurt, as the flames broke out in the empty, abandoned buildings. The reasons for the incident remain unknown, but local authorities say the migrants are above suspicion:
– Now 350 people remain here. 270 of them themselves stated that they want to move to a new camp. Therefore, I have no reason to think that they started the fire.
According to rumors spread by local residents, things and objects remained in the abandoned buildings that the migrants did not want to show to the authorities, since upon arrival at the new camp they go through a search procedure in order to find illegal items or substances. Therefore, in order to avoid trouble, they decided to burn them. Most likely, we are talking about drugs or some other compromising items.
On Saturday, a new closed (prison) camp for migrants, designed for 3,000 people, was opened on the island. Its territory is surrounded by a high barbed wire fence and is equipped with surveillance systems. Representatives of a number of human rights organizations have already stated that they consider the conditions of detention of people provided here to be too strict.
Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis opened a new camp on Samos on Saturday, announcing that similar facilities will open in a few months on Kos and Leros, and in 2022 on Chios and Lesvos.
“Samos is now regaining tranquility and leaving behind the shameful scenes in Vati,” Mitarakis said, noting that some 7,500 people had “accumulated” during his first visit to the original migrant centers in Vati. “From Monday, the 550 remaining will be transferred to a new camp,” the minister added. Due to the fire, this happened even earlier than planned.
It is worth noting that these camps are intended for persons who have been denied asylum in Greece. And since most of them do not have any documents, this means that there is simply nowhere to send them back. Therefore, the Greek state is forced to support these people until the moment when their further fate is decided.
“Samos is now regaining tranquility and leaving behind the shameful scenes in Vati,” Mitarakis said, noting that some 7,500 people had “accumulated” during his first visit to the original migrant centers in Vati. “From Monday, the 550 remaining will be transferred to a new camp,” the minister added. Due to the fire, this happened even earlier than planned.
It is worth noting that these camps are intended for persons who have been denied asylum in Greece. And since most of them do not have any documents, this means that there is simply nowhere to send them back. Therefore, the Greek state is forced to support these people until the moment when their further fate is decided.
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