Greece: on the island of Samos, migrants discover their new "prison" -like center
Audio 01:15
Migrants wait outside the new center in the village of Zervou on the island of Samos, Greece, September 20, 2021. AP - Michael Svarnias
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
On the Greek island of Samos, near Turkey, a new so-called “closed” refugee camp, isolated and equipped with an ultra-secure structure has just entered into service.
The approximately 500 asylum seekers who were still in the former Vathy camp have started to be transferred there.
Reporting.
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With our special correspondent in Samos,
Joël Bronner
“
Camp closed?
We don't know what a closed camp is.
Is it a prison or is it for immigrants?
Because I was told it was designed as a prison.
Like this young Malian, sitting next to his bags, the asylum seekers wonder and worry, they who are preparing to leave the Vathy camp and its slum-like appearance for the new camp on the island. of Samos and its reputation as a prison.
►
See also: In Samos, Greece inaugurates a new "closed center" for asylum seekers
In Cameroon, Paulette ran a spare parts business that took her to travel to Dubai and even China.
She reluctantly resigns herself to this new camp.
“
It breaks my heart,
” she said.
I have no choice.
If I had a choice, I couldn't agree to go there.
It's because I have no choice, I have to go.
"
How she also felt compelled to leave Cameroon.
“
In Buea, there is war, political war, we kill people, we kidnap people.
Me, I lost my mother, I lost my father, I lost my child, I lost my little sister, my big brother… So I found myself alone.
And I didn't know.
If I had to do it again, I would rather die in my country than come here.
Yes.
Because these people, they have no heart.
"
While the transfers between the two camps are just starting, the excavator is already ready.
The destruction of the old
Vathy camp
is scheduled for the weekend.
#SAMOS: The transfer of around 200 people from #Vathy camp to the new prison like center in #Zervou has just started.
pic.twitter.com/Cs5LfWrcEo
- MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) September 20, 2021
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Greece
International Migration
Refugees
Immigration