The Greek authorities have strengthened safety on the sea and land borders with Turkey in anticipation of a wave of refugees affected by the earthquakes on February 6.
Hundreds of extra brokers have already began patrolling the border within the Evros or Maritsa river area over the weekend. In addition to the brokers, surveillance measures and fences have additionally been strengthened.
“The mass motion of hundreds of thousands of individuals just isn’t the answer,” stated the Greek Migration Minister, Notis Mitarachi, who has defended sending emergency assist to Turkey and Syria “earlier than this occurs.”
Expansion of the border fence
Analysts estimate that among the individuals left homeless by the earthquakes will start their journey to Europe within the spring if the required humanitarian assist doesn’t arrive.
The extension of the controversial border fence was introduced on Friday whether or not or not the challenge is funded by the EU. The current 35 kilometer, 5 meter excessive fence will double in size by the tip of the yr. “The fence will cowl your entire river to guard the European continent from unlawful flows,” Mitarachi burdened.
The Conservative authorities has additionally introduced that it’ll have dozens extra coastguards patrolling the Aegean and islands off the Turkish coast. The Prime Minister himself, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has toughened his speech in opposition to immigration in view of the elections scheduled for this yr.
The EU has additionally allotted extra money to Greece than to another nation for immigration management. With these funds, migrant detention facilities have been constructed which have changed the precarious camps in Samos, Leros or Cos. This yr new facilities shall be in-built Lesbos and Chios, however teams defending Human Rights denounce that they differ little from prisons.