Tag: lesbos

Urgent Call from Moria Camp for Help in Corona Times

Update 2/9/2020: This call was the second open letter to the EU and its member states to evict the Moria camp on the greek island of Lesvos in face of the pandemic threat. The inhabitants of the overcrowded camp have not received any answer so far, while everyone on the spot, including the support initiatives have by far reached their limits for months. In these circumstances, today, the first COVID-19 infection has been discovered in the camp.

  • To the European Union
  • To the Governments of European Countries
  • The European Public

Moria Camp, Lesvos April 16th 2020

We are addressing you from Moria Camp in Lesvos and ask for your help and support. Here in Lesvos almost 24.000 refugees currently live in highly inhuman conditions, with no services, only several hours of water per day and under deplorable hygienic conditions. We see, that now, after a long time, there is an ongoing discussion in the European public about us, about the circumstances we are living in. We would like to thank for all the solidarity, which we got in the last months and days from the European civil society, from all the people, who are not willing to abandon us in these times of the corona-crisis in their countries. We like to thank to all the politicians, communities, towns all over Europe, who declared, they like to receive refugees like us in their neighbourhoods. This give us hope and confidence, that the long and hard way we all have behind us, when we were forced to leave our home countries, was not in vain. We all came to Europe, because we want to live like human beings and because we could not stand the violence, the wars and the persecution we all faced. We were
coming, because our children deserve a better future, where they can live in safety, have access to health services, go to school and have the opportunity to make the most of their lives by using their abilities.

Now we are in a double crisis. We are hostages of circumstances, we are not
responsible for. At first the general living conditions in the Moria camp, which are really horrible and which are degrading us day by day. But now we face the problem of the pandemic danger, which we cannot stand alone. We began to organize our life in misery, we try to protect our dignity, but we cannot fight against a virus without minimal hygienic standards and possibilities to protect us. Any advise how to avoid the spread of Corona even sound illusionary to us:

How should we keep distance, if thousand have to wait for food every day, how to wash our hands, if no water is available? How can sick persons isolate if there is no place for that?


In the beginning of the crisis, we felt left abandoned and were totally unprepared. We took some measures to self-organize with the support from some, mainly local Greek NGOs to raise awareness and prepare for the worse. During the last weeks, we managed a lot of small steps, cleaned the camp, set up some hand washing stations, printed posters and leaflets and did other activities. While Corona spread in Greece and here in Lesvos, we expected the worst, because this virus in the camp would be like a death sentence for old, sick and other vulnerable individuals.

For the first time, we are able to breath in a bit of relief, since no new cases were reported on the island for more than two weeks. But this does not mean the danger vanishes. In contrary, Moria camp will stay vulnerable for many more months. But for us, the first phase of trying to keep the virus away by all means is over and now we are trying to prepare for the next period of time. In March here in Moria, refugees created several groups like the Moria Corona Awareness Team (MCAT) and Moria White Helmets. We worked very closely together with Greek and International NGOs as well as the local authorities. We also followed the demands and campaigns of the local Greek government for evacuation and call by ourselves to dissolve these camps in Lesvos, Chios, Samos and other islands as soon as possible. But we do see that this will not happen soon. Therefore, we suggest a two-folded strategy for the future. We urge Europe to evacuate the old, sick and vulnerable immediately because there is no protection for them here. This has to include unaccompanied or sick children with their families. In the meanwhile, many important steps can be taken to help the ones who will remain. The steps to address these issues are:

  • water (sewage/toilets, showers, and taps)
  • trash
  • isolation
  • food supply/food line
  • hygiene/disinfection
  • fire protection
  • security
  • awareness/education

This can and should be done with support of the European Union and EU governments, with the understanding that this is not a long-term solution. These camps violate the laws of international human rights and refugee rights. There should be a consensus among the European governments that these camps need to be dissolved as soon as possible, which realistically means after this Coronavirus pandemic. We, the refugees of Moria camp, under the guidance of MCAT and Moria White Helmets offer our support
and cooperation to any entity ready to assist in this endeavor on a temporary and provisionary level. This strategy also coincides with the desires of the Greek government who have long been requesting the EU’s assistance in taking in refugees, finding a long-term solution and relieving the pressure on the island and its people.

We know how much the Greek citizens on these islands have suffered during the last years and we also call on Europe to assist them in these difficult times. They also ask since a long for a sustainable solution instead of being left alone with this crisis. As we see it, the most plausible solution would be that the governments of the EU make cooperative contracts with the Greek government to provide aid, backing and technical support in order to fix what is fixable while the Coronavirus crisis is ongoing. At the
same time, it is also important to work towards evacuating as many people as possible. This being of the minors, the elderly and those with health conditions, and then working towards a long-term solution for evacuating the island and closing the camps once the crisis has passed. We welcome very much the first steps taken by the Greek Government now to get some of these vulnerable people out of the camps. By addressing the immediate structural needs in Moria camp on a short-term, temporary basis, time will be bought to find a more substantial solution for those currently residing
in Moria, paving the way for Moria and other hot spots to be permanently closed.

We need help to help ourselves. We are willing to do whatever we can do to protect all of us from the ongoing danger of the Coronavirus. We are in Europe and we need Europe to survive!


You can read this article also in the latest issue of Daily Resistance on page 4: https://www.oplatz.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Daily-Resistance-7.pdf

REFUGEES IN CORONA DAYS

Editorial to Daily Resistance #7

This time, we publish our newspaper – which is the own voice of the refugee movement – as a special issue. It was seen during the Corona virus epidemic that again the lowest classes are the most at risk, as in any case.

Refugees were put at risk, were isolated and received racist, discriminatory treatment because of the epidemic. On the border of Turkey and Greece they were reduced to a puppet of capitalist policies. They could make their voices heard outside though thanks to their different kind of actions like in Moria, Halberstadt, Ellwangen. Especially the activities regularly held in Halberstadt refugee camp were effective.

The importance of publishing Daily Resistance and delivering it to refugees was revealed once again during Corona times. The characteristic of capitalism that destroys nature and humans was more visibly questioned. Solidarity networks formed by workers and oppressed people in Corona days came to the fore as an organizational model. The refugee movement takes its place in these solidarity networks with Daily Resistance newspaper.

Turgay Ulu, April 2020, Berlin


KORONA GÜNLERİNDE MÜLTECİLER

Mülteci hareketinin kendi sesi olan Daily Resistance gazetemizi bu sefer özel sayı olarak basıyoruz. Corona virüsü salgınında görüldü ki gene en alt sınıflar her durumda olduğu gibi en çok risk altında bulunanlardır.

Moria, Halberstadt, Ellwangen gibi eylemler sayesinde seslerini duyuran mülteci kampları dışında görünmeyen bir çok mülteci kampında mülteciler korona virüsü nedeniyle riske atıldılar, izole edildiler ve ırkçı, ayrımcı muamele gördüler. Türkiye ve Yunanistan sınırında kapitalist politikaların oyuncağı durumuna düşürüldüler.

Özellikle Halberstadt mülteci kampında daha öncesinden düzenli olarak yaptığımız etkinlikler etkili oldu. Mülteciler seslerini değişik eylem yöntemleriyle duyurdular.

Daily Resistance gazetesinin basılıp elden mültecilere ulaştırılmasının önemi korona virüsü salgını sırasında bir kez daha açığa çıktı. Kapitalizmin doğayı ve insanı yok eden niteliği korona günlerinde daha çok sorgulanır oldu. Korona günlerinde işçi ve ezilenlerin oluşturduğu Dayanışma Ağları bir örgütlenme modeli olarak öne çıktı. Mülteci hareketi de Daily Resistance gazetesi aracıyla bu dayanışma ağlarında yerini alıyor.

Turgay Ulu, Nisan 2020, Berlin

DR #7 published!

Update (10 August): The issue has been delivered and can now be picked up in Café Karanfil! You can also download and read a digital PDF version here:

The issue consists of stories, statements and testimonies of people in isolated European lagers during Corona times. Languages of the texts this time: Turkish, Arabic, Urdu, Italian, English, Farsi, German, and French. The articles will be subsequently published as single posts oplatz.net in upcoming weeks.

Get your copy at Café Karanfil (Weisestraße 3, 12049 Berlin) from August 11th or write to us for bigger orders: dailyresistance@systemli.org

Hungary closes its borders

On October 15 2015 Hungary finally decided to close its border passage Botovo with Croatia, where the “more formal  coridor” for the flow of people, temporary established by inter-governmental agreements, took place, changing the direction of the so called balkan route. Instead of going through Croatia to Hungary the route is redirected to Slovenia, where people are registered, before taken to Austrian border (slov. Šentilj/ ger. Spielfeld).

Karta Slovenije

Info: use map for traveling through Slovenia.

Activist which are at the Slovenian borders and registration camps are reporting, that the authorities are taking fingerprints from the incoming people at the Gruškovje registration camp, but not at Petišovci. This information is not entirely clear, but it is worth to take into account that your fingerprints can be sent to EURODAC. Because of this, predominantly non-Syrians, can be effected by the Dublin convention – this means: if you claim asylum in other EU country, they can return you to Slovenia.

Who can be affected:

  • your fingerprints were taken in another country (and stored on a common European database called EURODAC)
  • you admit that you have been to, or travelled through, another country, even if you didn’t give your fingerprints
  • it can be shown by some other source of evidence that you have been to, or travelled through another country
  • it can be shown that you were previously issued a visa for an EU country
  • you tell the authorities that you wish to join your spouse, who is an asylum seeker or a refugee in another country

In case this happens to you and if you are non-Syrian citizen, you will need legal aid.

Situation in Slovenia (18.10.2015), reports from activists:

Our group on the field successfully set up an Info point in Petišovci. It is located next to the big registration tent. The situation regarding the access to the registration centres is varying. While there were no bigger problems in Petišovci, nobody external was allowed to enter the registration centre in Središče ob Dravi.

The other type of centres are accommodation centres. One is located in Šentilj (Spielfeld), the other in Gornja Radgona. These ones are being used at the moment, there are roughly about 20 more all over Slovenia which can be used if needed. These are being managed by the Civil Protection (Civilna zaščita), while the registration centres are being managed by the police. In addition to the registration centres in Petišovci and Središče ob Dravi there are more registration centres in Obrežje, Gruškovje and Dolga vas.

It seems the access to both types of centres might become an issue. Volunteers would be able to enter the accommodation centres via the Slovene Philanthropy and NGO Adre. This does not apply for the registration centres, where the access is even more restricted.

Based on the conversations with the refugees they mostly need information and the possibility to communicate. They fear what fingerprinting them means, whether it serves as a ground for deportation, they don’t know where they are and would like to inform their families regarding their situation. There’s no wifi network, chargers, multiple socket outlets, etc. in none of the centres. The medical staff in Petišovci complains that they aren’t allowed to hand out warm milk to the kids. One Austrian group offered to cook tea, with hesitation the head of the Red Cross agreed. This group already leaves today.

In short, the government agencies are declining external independent help. As a result of their limited capacities regarding the reception of refugees the flow has been slowed down, so they get stuck on the Balkan route, subjected to the cold and abuse and being blocked to to leave hazardous zones.