• Press Release

Greece: Statement from Amnesty research staff at site of refugee camp fire

September 20, 2016

An Amnesty International research team has arrived at the Moria refugees camp on Lesvos following yesterday’s fire that necessitated the evacuation of thousands of asylum-seekers.

“Witnessing the charred remains of Moria camp is shocking but comes as little surprise. Holding thousands of vulnerable people on Lesvos in appalling conditions with no knowledge of their fate inevitably creates an incendiary atmosphere of fear and despondency,” said Giorgos Kosmopoulos, Amnesty International’s Researcher on Refugees & Migrants rights in Europe.

“The government must ensure that no one is left sleeping rough tonight and everyone is adequately protected from possible violent attacks. The European Union and Greece cannot carry on stockpiling refugees indefinitely on the Greek islands. Instead EU leaders must share responsibility fairly and they must urgently start moving refugees to the mainland and onwards across Europe.”