Feature: Evacuation operation of Idomeni border camp receives mixed reaction

At the makeshift refugee camp of Idomeni at the border between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on Tuesday, Greek authorities launched a major operation to evacuate the sprawling, muddy tent city which has housed up to 12,000 people over the past three months.

On the first day of an operation expected to last about a week, more than 2,000 refugees and migrants were relocated to nearby state-run reception facilities.

The gradual dismantling of the stopgap camp, which has become a symbol of Europe's closed border policy since February, was welcomed with mixed feelings by people who have fled war-torn countries to end up trapped in Greece.

With their hopes dashed, they are moving into new organized settlements, planning their next steps to rebuild their lives in Europe.

Rawen Ramazzan Rashid is a 17-year-old Kurdish Iraqi who hopes to finish his computer studies in Norway, spent three months with his family at Idomeni after twice attempting to cross into the FYROM. He told Xinhua on Tuesday as he walked to another informal camp with his family and friends.

Rawen, along with his father, mother, and 11-year-old brother, and two other refugees from Iran and Syria, did not get on the coaches carrying people to former army camps on Tuesday.

They decided to take the four-hour walk to the informal camp of Eko gas station at Polykastro, some 20 km from Idomeni, and join the other 1,500 refugees currently living in tents there before moving into organized facilities.

They have applied for relocation to another European country and are awaiting response. Rawen's father Nawroz, an expert in agriculture, hopes it will be Norway where he lived for five years a decade ago.

"The Greek government says they will start registering people, refugees inside the army camps for relocation or asylum in Greece or family reunification. This is the hope we have. All we have is this. We will try it," Rawen told Xinhua.

Two km further, as buses with refugees were leaving Idomeni, dozens of European activists were protesting against the operation.

Paul, a 27-year-old from Spain held a banner which read: "We love you my friend" with his French friend Yamina, 25. The two joined the chanting slogans against dismantling the camp, demanding borders re-open and there be more assistance for the refugees.

"If politicians do nothing, we people need to do something," he told Xinhua. He and Yamina arrived in Idomeni 10 days ago.

Anna, another young volunteer from Spain, has been helping the refugees at Idomeni since February.

She believes the international community will forget about the refugee plight once Idomeni is cleared.

"We are here because we do not want to forget about them. I disagree with the European policies and how they are treating this situation, how they are treating people who just escaped from war, and I disagree with how they are closing Idomeni," she told Xinhua.

Despina, owner of the gas station who allowed the refugees to set up their tents next to the gas pumps since February, wished them the best, hoping the authorities would secure better living conditions for them elsewhere.

She has lost her usual clients due to the makeshift tent city in recent months and has seen her revenues plunge, but could not turn them away, she said.

Until February, when the borders were still open, they would stop at her gas station for as little as a few hours to up to two days, before continuing their journey to Central Europe.

Over the past few months, more and more people have camped around the gas station. She expects that after Idomeni, people living in other informal settlements will be convinced to likewise move into organized shelters and that truck drivers and tourists will return to her gas station.

"I will miss the refugees, in particular the children. But I believe that this should end for their own good and ours," she said. Endit