Deputy Migration Policy Minister Ioannis Balafas said the government wants to close the camp in Souda on the Greek island of Chios and transfer refugees and migrants in a new camp outside the town.
“We do not want to create new camps, but replace the accommodation center in Souda which has these negative characteristics with a much better one, in an area outside the town, in the area of the former landfill where the UNHCR has secured the money and the environmental study to create much better conditions, and services can do a much better job,” the minister said during a visit on the island and the burned camp at Souda.
The UN Refugee Agency and Amnesty International condemned the serious violence that broke out in the municipality-run refugee camp at Souda, when tents were burned and two activists beaten by suspected extreme-right supporters. A Syrian refugee at the camp was seriously injured on Friday, when a stone thrown down from the walls surrounding the camp hit him on the head.
“Soon we will be able to transfer people there and close Souda,” he told journalists, adding that the State will not tolerate violence against refugees.
(source: ana-mpa)
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