Greek islanders to protest over refugee centres

Residents on the island of Lesvos have announced a protest March for September 19 to express their anger and frustration over a migrant centre in Moria after an increase in crimes and property damages in the area.

According to the residents of Moria they are carrying an unreasonable burden with regards to the migrant centre where conditions could spark more social unrest and criminal activity due to over congestion and unliveable conditions.

The protest March is aimed at drawing attention to the problem with protesters to demand the decongestion of the centre.

“A village cannot lift the burden of the island’s refugee issue, with 5,000 trapped and angry people who rightly complain,” the president of the local council, Nikos Trakellis said. “But the people here cannot take it any longer,” he added.

A few months ago, the consecutive burglaries in homes and damage to farmland led to an eventful local council meeting during which residents demanded solutions from the relevant ministries and authorities. Instead, said Trakellis, the number of refugees and migrants increased. The damages caused in the village by refugees and migrants who have left Moria’s centre were the last straw for the locals.

“We call on all the citizens of Lesvos to stand on our side and participate in the protest for an issue that concerns the entire local community. We ask for the immediate decongestion of Moria’s hot spot. The island cannot welcome so many people, cannot lift this burden any longer,” he added.