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Roundup: Rumors, hearsay keep refugees trapped in Idomeni of Greece

Xinhua, April 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Rumors that borders will open have taken off once again in Idomeni, Greece, leading to chaotic situations such as the one on Sunday.

Violent clashes erupted on Sunday between refugees attempting to cross the borders and the police of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

Over 11,000 refugees in Idomeni have for weeks been sleeping in the open in dismal conditions, fuelling hopelessness and despair.They endure an endless ordeal rendering them vulnerable to everything and especially to rumors said to be spread by self-proclaimed activists.

On Monday, new rumors were spreading between refugees.

"We were told that another demonstration will take place on Tuesday so as to keep the pressure and make FYROM open the border eventually. Should tomorrow's attempt fail we were told that we should keep on trying in a daily basis," said Ali from northern Iraq.

It was yet another rumor that left hundreds of migrants frustrated at being prevented from continuing their journey across the Balkans to the north of Europe, to charge the fence on Sunday. They ended up tear-gassed, shot with rubber bullets and feeling deceived once again.

"People don't know who to believe. There are a lot of rumors, a lot of misinformation and -- deliberate or not -- it keeps us in the dark," said 20-year-old Mohamed while preparing his bags to leave the makeshift refugee camp in Idomeni."I have had enough of being tear-gassed and beaten by police each time we are misled by a false rumor."

Unlike Mohamed, Soran from Iraq, who was hurt by a rubber bullet in his stomach during Sunday's violent confrontation with the FYROM police, was determined to stay in Idomeni as he believed that "Europe has no other option but to let us go."

"There was a state of panic during the confrontation. The atmosphere was suffocating because of the tear gas, so when the rubber bullet hit me I couldn't even take a deep breath to endure the pain," he explained.

"I am not going to leave Idomeni because I want to stay near the borders. They can't keep them closed forever. So when this barbed wire door opens, I want to be the first one to cross. I don't want to go to a camp and be isolated without knowing what will happen next," he said.

Four buses full of people left Idomeni on Monday. A police source said many of those moving to camps were scared by Sunday's events.

Ahmed vowed "never to come back."

Nevertheless, in the small forest of tents around Idomeni's makeshift camps, there are still people who hope that the border will open and still believe every single rumor they hear. Endit