Greece: in Lesbos, after the fire of the Moria camp, the evacuation of refugees accelerates

Refugees from the destroyed Moria camp leave for a new temporary camp on the island of Lesbos, Greece, September 17, 2020. REUTERS / Elias Marcou

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In Greece, on the island of Lesbos, more than a week after the fire that destroyed the Moria asylum seekers camp, the evacuation of refugees to a new camp has accelerated since Thursday.

Several thousand asylum seekers have now been registered and have been able to join the new camp, made up of hundreds of tents.

The operation could take between two and three days in total.

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With our correspondent in Athens,

On Greek television images, there were now hundreds of asylum seekers from

queuing in front of the gates of the new camp on the island of Lesbos.

A seaside installation, made up of white tents bearing the logo of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and hastily put together in the days following the double fire in this Moria camp, the largest in Europe .

According to the authorities, they are now 5,000 to have joined this new camp, on the site called Kara Tepe, against only a thousand the day before.

In total, 12,700 asylum seekers fled the charred Moria camp, most often in almost total destitution.

In recent days, water, food and medicine were particularly badly needed.

Before entering this camp, the Greek authorities said they had carried out rapid tests relating to the coronavirus.

More than a hundred positive cases have been detected and placed in quarantine.

In recent days, many asylum seekers have been reluctant to join this camp which could in their eyes constitute a form of new Moria.

An overcrowded camp, particularly famous for its insalubrity and the promiscuity between its residents. 

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• International Migration

• Greece

• Refugees

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