Winter auf den griechischen Inseln

Es ist der sechste Winter nach Unterzeichnung des EU-Türkei Deals, den tausende von Flüchtlingen in so genannten Hot-Spots auf den griechischen Inseln verbringen müssen. Seit September ohne Geld, denn die griechische Regierung, die das "Cash-Card" System - ca. 90 Euro pro Monat und Person - von der UN im Herbst übernommen hat, ist bislang entweder nicht in der Lage oder willens, es auch wieder in Kraft treten zu lassen.

Und wie es sonst in den Camps auf Lesbos, Chios und Samos so aussieht, beschreibt AYS:

"Residents of Moria 2 report that IOM has not provided any winter protection, and although camp authorities are moving some people from tents to containers, there are not enough containers for everybody.

It is heavy raining for a couple of weeks, the weather is cold and always windy with no heating source yet. Lack of electricity and warming. Just one NGO distributed some blankets to the people.

Self-organised groups from the camp including the Moria Corona Awareness Team and the Moria White Helmets are still active in providing basic services such as waste management, plastic recycling, education and clothes distribution while dealing with their own asylum claims and looking after their families. In general, these groups receive less support because they are not NGOs, but are happy to work together and with the Greek community. Despite their best efforts, however, concerns about the coming winter remain.

The big problem in this winter, similar with last winter — inhumane living conditions — living in the tents and freezing, because still there is no heating source and we have electricity only few hours a day. (...)

In Vial camp (in Chios), some people are still living in tents, including families with children and babies. Many people, having already received their refugee status, live with no cash allowance.

Winter after winter, needs do not change, and still little to nothing is being done by the island’s authorities. RBB has been asked for materials to secure and waterproof leaking rooftops in shelters and communal structures in the camp, for warm clothes, sleeping bags and raincoats, and they distributed what they could. Another organisation is also distributing winter clothes, but as always, it will not be enough. (...)

On Samos, while the new Closed and Controlled MPRIC does offer containers, its positioning means it is bleak, foggy and prone to flooding. It is not possible to easily share photos of this as in our dystopian present, people who live there fear punishment if they are critical of their living situation. It is also extremely isolated. For the last three weeks many residents have been unable to leave. In early December, a group of organisations working on the island wrote a public letter to Greek authorities on the restrictions imposed in the new camp if they have received a second rejection or before they receive their white card. As the weather worsens, for these people there will be no escape."