Refugee Crisis Reaching Saturation Point, EU-Turkey Deal Offers No Solution

The refugee crisis on Greek islands is reaching saturation point. Migrants are on hunger strike, riots have broken out, medical centers have been destroyed and sources on the ground told Sputnik since the EU's deal with Turkey came into effect, the situation "is much worse".

Many NGOs have ceased from operating on the islands, leaving only voluntary organizations that decide to remain there with more work and more problems to solve. The European Asylum Support Office is understaffed, refugee camps are crammed and overcrowded.

Meanwhile the public and political appetite for hearing about the plight of the refugees — or indeed offering workable solutions — appears to be waning as sea rescues, as well as saving lives, administering first aid and coping with the crisis on the islands has been almost left solely to the volunteers who choose to remain there.

"It's difficult to operate in Moria, the refugee hotspot on Lesbos," Dimitris Papandreou, Medecins du Monde (MdM) field coordinator in Lesbos told Sputnik.

"There have been lots of incidents in the last few days, mainly conflicts between nationalities, including riots."

Afghans & Pakistanis have historically bad relations. They shouldn't have been housed together #refugeesgr #moria #lesvos

— Omaira Gill (@OmairaGill) June 3, 2016

"Glass was smashed in the windows of one of our medical points — luckily no one inside was hurt as everyone had been evacuated." Papandreou told Sputnik.

"There is a matter of safety for the NGOs volunteers and staff, also for the people living inside the camp which is overcrowded. Many NGOs left, which meant that those like us who decided to remain, have more things to do, more responsibilities — and more problems."

However,  Papandreou was keen to stress that Medecins du Monde is still providing its services at the Moria hotspot. "There is a security issue these days but I strongly believe that NGOs volunteers and staff are not a real target and that safety was not the reason that some NGO's left." 

"We strongly believe there is a need for a medical NGO to be present at the site. We don't agree with the common EU-Turkey statement and especially with the detention centers policy but we have decided to remain in Moria because our main goal is to continue supporting refugees who are in bigger need under the current situation. At the same time through MdM presence in Moria our aim is to underline every possible incident of human rights violation."

Refugees and migrants wait to be registered at the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, November 5, 2015.

© REUTERS / Alkis Konstantinidis

Following a recent riot on Lesbos and the evacuation of the camp, many refugees are housed in tents close to the gates of the hotspot.

"It's a temporary measure and I don't know what the authorities will do with these people, we are trying to provide first aid."

Yesterday #Moria, today #Samos. The untenable situation of refugees in Greece explodes @EU_Commission #OpenBorders https://t.co/oaV4l7jBbf

— Edith Pérez Alonso (@lapepitadsandia) June 3, 2016

Papandreou told Sputnik that there are at least 3000 people inside the Moria camp — and it only has the capacity for 2000.

"All facilities and services are severely stretched — and have been since the EU-Turkey deal came into force on 20 March."

Hotspot #Samos after riots in the past days. Shows the serious situation in camps. 70 refugees injured. #RefugeesGR pic.twitter.com/WzFmVi1A9A

— Jan Willem Ham (@JanWillemHam) June 3, 2016

It appears the EU deal with Turkey is offering no solution to the burnt camps in Greece that are dangerously close to reaching saturation point.