Austria: grandmothers mobilize to welcome migrants from Moria camp

Audio 01:13

Migrants cross the German-Austrian border in October 2015 (illustration).

AP Photo / Kerstin Joensson

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

Austrian grandmothers are mobilizing for the country to welcome migrants from Moria, the camp on the Greek island of Lesbos devastated by a fire.

They are called the Omas gegen Rechts, in French, "the grannies against the right-wing" and they have been camping for a month in front of the chancellery to change Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's mind, who has so far refused to welcome some.

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With our correspondent in Vienna,

Isaure Hiace

The

Omas gegen Rechts

group was created at the end of 2017 when Sebastian Kurz joined forces with the far right to rule the country.

Today, he governs with the Greens but remains inflexible on migration policy, refusing to welcome

migrants from Moria,

which the

Omas

denounce

.

“ 

There is no reason not to help these people: Austrian taxpayers are paying for now empty reception centers which could all be made available.

And then we need these people in our aging European societies

 , ”explains Susanne Scholl, 71.

Determined grandmothers

For the past month, the

Omas

have taken turns camping in front of the chancellery almost every day.

They thus hope to convince the Chancellor, but also the Austrians reluctant to welcome refugees, explains Elisabeth Zoumboulakis-Rottenberg, 73 years old.

“ 

My family had to flee Austria in 1938 and if they hadn't been taken in by another country then, I wouldn't exist today.

I think the Austrians have a duty to do the same.

And I tell them:

"we can do it!"

», Launches the septuagenarian.

So far neither Sebastian Kurz nor any minister has come to meet them.

The

Omas

therefore promise to continue their movement.

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  • Austria

  • Immigration

  • International Migration

  • Greece

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

Germany: demonstrations in support of refugees in Moria camp