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15 refugees injured in clashes on Greek island

Xinhua, June 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

Fifteen refugees were injured with three of them transferred to hospital for further treatment, after clashes broke out at the refugee camp of Moria on Greece's Lesvos island Wednesday night between Afghan and Pakistani migrants, local authorities said Thursday.

An ensuing fire destroyed blankets and some tents inside the camp. Five firefighters with two vehicles managed to douse the fire early Thursday, said local fire department chief Nikolaos Babakos.

The reason behind the clashes has not been made known yet. It was the second fight in the camp within two days between the two groups of Afghan and Pakistani refugees and migrants. On Monday, four policemen were injured during similar clashes, local police officers said.

By Thursday, the camp was peaceful but police officers told Xinhua that all Pakistanis moved out of Moria and slept outside because they are afraid of the Afghans.

Meanwhile, local residents of the village expressed serious concerns over the situation.

The president of Moria village Nikos Trakellis said residents were angry over 3,000 people being hosted inside the camp for several weeks with inadequate help. He claimed migrants often got out and "break into our houses."

Since the EU-Turkey deal was implemented, more and more people gather in Lesvos' hospitality facilities. Tensions have risen lately as the process of returns to Turkey and granting asylum to those who are entitled seems to move slowly.

According to statistics released by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, total arrivals on Lesvos from January 2016 till May 28 were 90,413.

The effects of the EU-Turkey deal are clear: in January there were 42,601 arrivals, while in February, March and April, the figures dropped to 31,416, 14,155 and 1,766 arrivals, respectively. In April 2015, Lesvos counted 5,440 arrivals.

Despite the drop in arrivals, refugees, NGOs and local residents said that there is still much work that remains to be done to offer adequate support to refugees. Enditem