The governor of the overcrowded Moria migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesvos handed in his resignation on Wednesday, citing fatigue.
Yannis Balbakakis told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) that he is leaving his post with his head held high, explaining simply that “I’m leaving because I have to leave. I’m tired.”
Balbakakis has run the cramped Moria facility for almost three years. During his tenure there he helped create the so-called “safe zones” for the protection of unaccompanied minors, women traveling alone and single-parent families with children.
However, critics point out that the living conditions for asylum seekers there have deteriorated, crime is rampant and violent disturbances are a frequent occurrence.
The struggle to cope with 7,370 asylum seekers crammed into a facility designed for 3,000 is most evident in the long lines outside the camp’s showers and toilet facilities.
Speaking to Greek daily newspaper Kathimerini in August, Balbakakis lamented that “We’ve even run out of space to install more chemical toilets,” adding that distributing food on time at the Moria camp has also proven to be an uphill battle.
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