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Tensions Rising at Overcrowded Refugee Camp in Greece

Residents of the Souda refugee camp walking around the tents in the camp Residents of the Souda refugee camp walking around the tents in the camp REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

6 December 2016
Attacks on the Souda refugee camp on the island of Chios have caused panic and left  numerous residents homeless.

One of the refugee camps on the island of Chios was attacked several times over three nights by unidentified assailants who threw petrol bombs and stones down at tents. One Syrian refugee was injured and several tents were damaged, forcing residents to evacuate and find another accommodation. Other people were afraid to return to the camp out of fear of further attacks.

Amnesty International condemned the attacks and urged the competent authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and to ensure the safety of the refugees living in the camps.

Overcrowded camps and poor living conditions have been causing tensions for a while, but according to Roland Schopenhauer, spokesman for UNHCR Greece, the situation is now seriously deteriorating. It is also reported that  there are over 3.000 migrants in Chios while the state facilities for refugees have a capacity for only 1.100 people.

 

For further information, read:

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/11/greece-police-must-protect-refugees-from-ongoing-far-right-attacks/
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/spurned-hopeless-attacked-refugees-drama-161122183357579.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38025109
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants-greece-chios-idUSKBN13D1SX

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