Greece is seeking to combat irregular migration by setting up floating barriers and detention centers on its islands in the Aegean Sea, amidst local and international reactions angry at the accumulation of irregular migrants in the camps.
Greek Minister of Immigration and Refugee Policy Noutis Mitarakis said that his country will use the floating barriers to be established off its islands in the Aegean, only if it had tangible effects in reducing immigration rates.
He added in press statements that his country's government would resort to a pilot phase of the floating barrier, and would then decide whether to use it or not.
The Greek government announced its intention to establish floating barriers off its islands in the Aegean Sea, to prevent the crossing of irregular migrants to it, explaining that the wall will extend at sea along 2,700 meters, while it will reach a height of 50 centimeters, and will be equipped with floodlights.
On Monday, the authorities said that they would go ahead with the purchase of land on the islands of Lesbos, Chios and Samos, and would continue plans to establish detention facilities on state-owned land on the islands of Kos and Leros.
"The government has decided to close the current chaotic facilities and establish closed and closed facilities," government spokesman Stelios Pitsas said in a statement.
According to the data of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the number of irregular migrants who entered Greek territory last year reached 59,726.
In a statement, the main opposition party, "Syriza", described the government's plan as "shameful" and "inhuman."
On the other hand, the Director of Amnesty International in Greece, Gavril Sacelaridis, pointed out that there are many unanswered questions about the plan that "violates the most prominent human rights such as the right of asylum".
Thousands of migrants await on the islands to consider their asylum claims, and most reside in piled tents known as reception centers.
Last week, migrants protested on the island of Lesbos to poor living conditions, while island residents took to the streets, demanding the closure of reception centers.
Hundreds of thousands of people crossed borders into Europe from Turkey via Greece in 2015 and 2016, before the European Union’s mediation agreement cuts flows, but the number of arrivals has increased since September 2019.