... For (the new ) destitute people of Igoumenitsa

With the opportunity of certain recent publications expressing their surprise to discover citizens of  third countries gathered in the area around the port of Igoumenitsa and living in makeshift camps under appalling conditions waiting for a chance to leave illegally for Italy, we would like to point out the following:

About a year ago, a similar situation to the one now created in Igoumenitsa existed in the port of Patras. Then as well, people from third countries had been living temporarily in a makeshift camp under poor hygiene conditions, waiting for the right opportunity to flee to Italy. Then, and in particular on 07/12/2009, the "response" of the Greek state was "sweeping operations" and the dismantling of the camp.

It is obvious that people who were expelled from Patras are the ones who are now in Igoumenitsa, along, of course, with others, new desperate people. It is also obvious that, if expelled from there, they will try to find another camp sight before attempting to leave Greek territory for another more welcoming European country.

As long as Greece still fails to comply with its legal obligations (foreseen by international, European and Greek legislation), as long as it still maintains a shameful asylum procedure (with incredible delays and obstructions in the receipt and processing of requests, with interviews conducted by insufficient staff and interpreters, with minimal rates of recognition of refugees and removal of the second instance), as long as the benefits to asylum seekers remain nonexistent (including housing) and as long as the authorities’ behavior remains unacceptable (with "sweeping operations" even against children or families, with  tolerance for racist violence from Greek citizens), these people will continue to be crammed into temporary camps and will continue to try, often losing their lives, to hide in a truck and then aboard a ship, which may get them away from  inhospitable Greece.

The question is whether all of us will continue to tolerate the abovementioned situation that offends and exposes us, simply be pretending to be surprised.

Greek Council for Refugees