Coronavirus: MEPs call for evacuation of most vulnerable migrants from Greek camps

The European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee on Monday called for the EU’s emergency evacuation of the most vulnerable coronavirus migrants from overcrowded camps in Greece, warning of the “risk of many deaths”.

In a letter to the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, the chairman of the LIBE parliamentary committee, Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, alerted to the situation of the 42,000 asylum seekers crammed on the Greek islands, where there are no 'there is ' no possibility of social distancing' and where 'the necessary medical equipment is not available' . "It is an emergency and the EU must react accordingly with an action plan which should at least include a preventive evacuation of the high-risk population, in particular those over 60 and people suffering from respiratory problems, diabetes or other illnesses that increase the risk of severe symptoms , " he wrote on behalf of the LIBE committee, which brings together all parties.

"If the EU fails to act immediately, the situation on the Greek islands will become unmanageable, with the risk of many deaths," he warns.

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MEPs also call for asylum seekers to make an increased coordinated effort on the part of the Member States' health systems, and more financial assistance to increase hospitalization and intensive care capacities.

While seven EU countries made a commitment in mid-March to take in some 1,600 children from the Greek islands, these MEPs are calling on "to continue" to act for their "rapid relocation".

Two cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed on the island of Lesbos but for the moment, none has been detected in the Greek camps.

In order to prevent the spread of the epidemic, Athens has imposed strict restrictions on the freedom of movement of migrants on the Aegean islands. Camp visits are also reduced to a minimum.