The Moria refugee camp on Lesbos (Greece) was on fire and almost completely destroyed.
More and more politicians, including from the government, are calling for migrants to be accepted into Germany.
The
Moria refugee camp
on the island of
Lesbos
in
Greece
fell victim to flames on Wednesday night.
The fires were
preceded by unrest among
residents after the
Corona *
quarantine
.
The police fought riots by young people with
tear gas
- minors are evacuated.
Update from September 10th, 5:56 p.m.:
After Chancellor
Angela Merkel
and French President
Emmanuel Macron
proposed to take in 400 unaccompanied minors from the
Moira refugee camp
in a joint EU campaign
, Munich's Mayor
Dieter Reiter
follows suit
.
He pointed out again on Thursday that the city can currently accept 200 to 300 refugees.
But he also warned: "The fate of the approximately 13,000 people who are now homeless in
Lesbos
must not only depend on the commitment of individual communities."
Update from September 10th, 3:04 p.m .:
Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President
Emmanuel Macron
want to
take in
400 unaccompanied minors
in a joint action with other
EU countries
after the fires in the Greek
refugee camp Moria
.
According to information from the dpa in Berlin, the number applies to all participating countries - how many of them Germany would take over has not yet been determined, it said.
Fire in Moria: 16 Union members of the Bundestag oppose Interior Minister Seehofer
Update from September 10th, 2:36 p.m.:
More and more members of the
Union
oppose the course in the
refugee question
by
Horst Seehofer (CSU)
.
In a
letter to the Interior Minister
,
16 members of the Union Bundestag
, including the human rights policy spokesman Michael Brand (see update from September 10th, 9:10 a.m.), demanded the admission of 5,000 recognized refugees from mainland Greece.
"We ask that Germany take in 5,000 refugees from the Greek mainland, if possible jointly with other EU states, but if necessary also alone,", says the letter that the dpa has received.
The priority now is not to shape European refugee policy, "but to alleviate obvious human hardship".
From the
Union
parliamentary group, it was said that the 16 MEPs would not speak for the parliamentary group and that the letter had not been discussed with anyone else.
There was a lack of understanding about the advancement of MEPs, as it was a European matter.
An exclusively German reaction would be unfortunate in this context.
Refugee camp fire on Lesbos: The cause of the inferno of flames is now clear - terrible suspicions are in the room
Update from September 10th, 1.30 p.m.:
According to the
Greek government
,
migrants started
the
fire in Moria
itself.
"The fire was started by people who have applied for asylum - in response to the quarantine imposed because of the coronavirus," said
government spokesman Stelios Petsas
.
These are people who “don't respect their host country,” said Petsas.
With such actions, however, these people torpedoed any solution.
“We'll tell you straight and clear: You won't leave the island because of the fire.
They can forget that. ”The arsonists only managed to make thousands of people - including families - homeless, criticized Petsas.
Athens
wants to carry out 19,000 corona tests on Lesbos in the next few days.
The fear of an uncontrollable virus outbreak is great after 35 migrants tested positive for the virus and can no longer be found.
Major fire in Moria refugee camp on Lesbos: France and Germany want to take in refugees together
Update from September 10th, 1:10 p.m.:
After the
flames in the Moria refugee camp
,
France
and
Germany are
planning
a proposal to take in
refugees
.
It is particularly about minors, said French President
Emmanuel Macron
.
Other European partners should also be won: "We have to show
solidarity
with
Greece
." It is now a question of a "good solidarity response" to Greece, said the 42-year-old.
Update from September 10, 10:10 a.m.:
The pressure on
Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU)
to quickly take in
refugees
from
Moria
is growing.
Numerous representatives of parties, associations and churches are demanding quick action from the CSU politician.
The managing director of the refugee aid organization
Pro Asyl
, Günter Burkhardt, criticized it on Thursday as a "diversionary maneuver" that Seehofer made admission dependent on a European agreement on the distribution of refugees.
"Anyone who talks about a European solution here is playing for time and looking for an alibi for inaction."
Not only the opposition, but also high-ranking politicians from their own ranks, such as
Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU)
(see update at 10:10 a.m.) or
Michael Brand
(CDU) (see update at 9:10 a.m.) are
calling for the migrants to be accepted
.
Even
CSU boss Markus Söder
wrote on Twitter: “All of Europe and Germany must act and help.
Should the federal government decide to take people in, Bavaria will of course take part. ”Will the interior minister give in to the increasing pressure?
Greece: Development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) also calls for refugees from Moria to be accepted - Sharp criticism of Brussels
Update from September 10, 10:10 a.m.: Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU)
spoke plain text on
ARD television
on Wednesday evening
.
He advocates the admission of
2000 refugees from Moria
in
Germany
.
Within the
EU,
Germany
must lead the way
in a “coalition of the willing”.
Müller also shot sharply against Brussels: “It's not the refugees from Greece, it's the refugees from Europe.
That is why this issue must be resolved by Europe and the EU.
But I don't hear a signal from Brussels. ”One could not wait for a unanimous European agreement:“ Eight strong states could solve the problem now. ”
Müller
visited
Moria
earlier and now spoke of a "prison".
Refugees
would be "penned up like criminals" there.
It was foreseeable that such a catastrophe would occur, he said on
ARD focal point
.
He also warned of further disasters in the Balkans or Lebanon that are already looming: "It is a cry for help that unfortunately does not reach Europe."
Fire in refugee camp Moria: 5000 refugees to Germany?
CDU politician calls for Germany to go it alone - "treated worse than cattle"
: Update of 10 September, 9:10
The
human rights policy spokesman of the CDU parliamentary group
in the Bundestag, Michael Brand, calls for the
* Brand in Moria
that Germany, if necessary, single-handedly
take 5000 refugees
should.
Brand said on Thursday on Südwestrundfunk (SWR) that this humanitarian measure was urgently needed after what had happened there for years and had been "ignored".
The people in the
camp
on the
island of Lesbos
have been "treated worse than we treat our cattle," says Brand.
It should not “send the signal that
Europe will
only react if you set fire to the refugee camps yourself”.
However, care must be taken to ensure that only those people come to Germany who have already gone through an asylum procedure in Greece.
Major fire in Moria refugee camp: unaccompanied minors brought to the mainland
Update from September 10th, 8:10 am:
After the
major fire
in the
Moria refugee camp
, the first measures to accommodate people are underway.
165 unaccompanied minors
were evacuated and taken on board a plane from Lesbos to
Thessaloniki
.
Another 240 are to follow.
The fire brigade was able to extinguish several small fires that broke out on Thursday night.
Some young people had tried to come to the capital of the island, as reported by the Greek state television.
The police were attacked with stones and
tear gas was
used.
After
35 corona cases were
found
in the refugee camp
, there is great fear of the uncontrolled spread of the pandemic.
The infected people went into hiding as a result of the major fire and could infect thousands of people.
Wow!
Thousands of people demonstrate in front of Berlin Central Station for the evacuation of the people in #Moria.
#LeaveNoOneBehind pic.twitter.com/V1ZcMuaQMT
- Erik Marquardt (@ErikMarquardt) September 9, 2020
It is not yet known exactly how many people became homeless in the disaster.
Most recently, the camp was
completely overcrowded
with around
12,500 people
.
Moria refugee camp: New fires on Thursday night - Germans demonstrate for refugee admission
Update of September 10, 6.40 pm:
In the
refugee camp Moria
an apparently
new fire
erupted.
An
afp
photographer saw flames in a part of the camp that had previously been little affected by the fire disaster.
At least 3,500 refugees are said to have become homeless.
+
Another fire broke out in the Moria refugee camp.
© LOUISA GOULIAMAKI / AFP
There was
chaos
again
.
The victims ran from the camp while their tents burned.
Meanwhile, thousands of people
in
Germany
demonstrated for the acceptance of refugees from the camp.
The
"
Seebrücke
"
organization
called for protests in several German cities, including Berlin.
Federal Foreign Minister
Heiko Maas
(SPD) spoke of a "
humanitarian catastrophe
" and called for those affected to be distributed among EU member states.
Interior Minister
Horst Seehofer
rejected advances from various federal states that had agreed to accept.
He insists on Europe-wide distribution.
There was criticism of this “blockade” attitude from the SPD.
Fire in refugee camp on Lesvos: pictures of the burning refugee camp are reminiscent of a war zone
Update from September 9th, 6.45pm:
The impressions from the completely devastated
Moria refugee camp
are reminiscent of pictures from a war zone.
The
sea rescue service "Mission Lifeline"
, which distributes a corresponding video on Twitter, writes of "hot, biting air".
You can still see "a few charred remains of the belongings of the people trapped here".
The post goes on to say: “You can feel the panic from last night.
A hell for the
27 EU states
that bear responsibility. ”The association founded in Dresden in 2016 also points out that new fires have already broken out in the camp.
A picture of destruction presents itself to us.
It's hot, the air bites, a few charred remains of the belongings of the people trapped here.
1/3 of them are children.
You can feel the panic from last night.
A hell for which 27 EU countries are responsible.
pic.twitter.com/Fq0kJ5PM26
- MISSION LIFELINE (@SEENOTRETTUNG) September 9, 2020
Moria: After the fire broke out, the SPD parliamentary group leader now has Merkel responsible
Update from September 9th, 2.30 p.m.:
The
federal government
already
wants to provide practical help
for the
burned down refugee camp Moria
- but the SPD is
now
demanding
a quick decision
from
Chancellor Angela Merkel
with a view to the possible admission of refugees.
"We are urging the Chancellor to find a quick solution," said
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich
on Wednesday.
"There are numerous federal states and municipalities in Germany that are ready to take in refugees from Moria immediately," he emphasized.
The resistance of
Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (SPD) to
this has
already been
incomprehensible.
"Any further waiting threatens to cost human lives."
Merkel's Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD)
said at an event in front of members of parliament that it was urgent to ask what could be done in Europe to help people, especially children and young people - "also by being accepted into Germany".
With regard to the situation of the refugees, he said, "that we in Europe must be ashamed that we have not managed to do this together".
Update from September 9, 2:19 p.m.:
The
federal government is
offering
Greece
help after the
devastating fire in the Moria refugee camp
.
The Ministry of the Interior announced this after a phone call between
Head
of
Department Horst Seehofer (CSU)
and the Greek
Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis
.
Mitarakis described in the conversation that "large parts of the facility were destroyed, so that one must assume that it can no longer be used in its current form," said Seehofer's spokesman.
The Federal Ministry of the Interior wants to first clarify with the Greek authorities what help is needed and then "provide it quickly and easily," said the spokesman.
The fire "also makes it clear that there is an urgent need to
find a European solution
to
the
refugee issue
at European level
," he said.
Now it is advisable to enter into discussions “intensively”.
Moria / Lesbos: Camp partly destroyed after fire - NRW wants to take in 1000 migrants
Update
from September 9, 2020, 1:55 p.m.: Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU)
wants to take in
up to
1000 refugees
from the almost completely burned down Greek
refugee camp Moria
in
North Rhine-Westphalia
.
He announced this to the
dpa
.
“The pictures from
Moria
are startling.
The people on the run lost everything after the fire, even the simple roof over their heads, ”explained
Laschet
.
"Rapid humanitarian aid is required here."
He had
already offered direct help
to the
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis
.
"We now need both: rapid, immediate aid for
Moria
and sustainable, European help in taking in children and families."
He had also offered the federal government support with the equipment - "with tents, medicines and everything that is urgently needed", reported the
NRW Prime Minister
.
“Now it is important that Greece say exactly what it needs.
The call for help from Moria is heard in North Rhine-Westphalia. "
Moria on Lesbos: 35 corona infected people disappeared on the run - panic among the population
Update
from September 9, 2020, 1:32 p.m.:
Among the almost
13,000 migrants
from the
refugee camp
are
35 confirmed corona infected people
.
Because of her, the camp was
quarantined
, which caused unrest on Tuesday.
As a result of the unrest, it is not yet clear whether in direct connection with them, the fires broke out during the night.
After almost the entire
Moria refugee camp was
destroyed, the
migrants are
currently being monitored by the police on a central country road.
Many of them were on their way to the
island's capital, Mytilene
, which is only six kilometers away.
This leads to panic among the population.
The mood is also fueled by reports from the media.
"13,000 refugees on the streets - 35
Corona
positives," reports a Greek TV station in the morning.
Even local politicians such as the
mayor Stratos Kytelis the town of Mytilene
, express fears publicly that the fugitives the
coronavirus
would spread uncontrollably on the island.
The
35 infected people
and their contacts, who should also have been quarantined in the camp, could not yet be found and isolated among the mass of migrants.
Moria: FDP leader Christian Linder calls for higher prioritization of the refugee issue after the fire drama
Update
September 9, 2020 12:45:
Even
FDP leader Christian Linder
Calls, in view of the
fires in crowded refugee camps Moria
on the Greek island
of Lesbos
to prioritize the
refugee issue
during the German
EU presidency
.
“The pictures from Moria are shocking.
For five years, the EU has failed to find a European solution to the refugee issue, ”Lindner tweeted on Wednesday.
The topic must be "right at the top."
As of July 1st, Germany took over the presidency of the Council of the
European Union
for six months
.
There
has so far been no agreement
on a common
refugee policy
.
Meanwhile,
Germany
offered help to
Greece
.
"We have been in intensive talks with the Greek government since yesterday," wrote the
interior ministry's spokesman, Steve Alter
, on Twitter.
He said: "We have helped Greece in the past and of course we will help now".
Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU)
have already offered this.
He did not say exactly how this help could look.
Fire in Moria refugee camp: Amnesty International calls for humane accommodation for migrants
Update
from September 9, 2020, 12:10 p.m.: The
human rights organization
Amnesty International
has called for humane accommodation for the around 13,000 asylum seekers.
“After the fires, the people from Moria are now waiting on the streets with their belongings.
You have to be brought to safety immediately, ”said Amnesty expert for asylum policy Franziska Vilmar on Wednesday.
Amnesty International is
now demanding very quick and pragmatic solutions
from the
Greek government
and other
EU member states
.
This included "the evacuation of the refugees to mainland Greece and further redistribution to other European countries," emphasized Vilmar.
Human rights can only be respected through adequate accommodation, access to medical care and a fair asylum procedure
+
Migrants in the burning Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesbos.
© Manolis LAGOUTARIS / AFP
Update
from September 9, 2020, 11.12 a.m.:
The
domestic political spokesman for the Union
parliamentary group , Mathias Middelberg
, has
spoken
out against a
national aid campaign
for
migrants in Moria
.
"The latest development on
Lesbos
makes it clear how urgent a European response to the refugee development is," said the
CDU politician
on Wednesday to the dpa.
Greece
must now receive all the support it needs.
The EU-Turkey agreement, which provides for the return of boat refugees from the Greek islands to Turkey, must be implemented and the
reform of the Common European Asylum System
advanced.
The federal government should work for this.
"
Unilateral Germany
but would not be useful because they could give the impression that Germany would accept the refugees alone," said Middelberg.
This
would tend to hinder the
chance of joint
European action
.
Even
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD)
calls for a
European solution
, "What happens in Moria, is a humanitarian disaster.
We have to clarify
with the
EU Commission
and other helpful
EU member states as
soon as possible how we
can support
Greece
.
What is happening in #Moria is a humanitarian disaster.
We have to clarify as quickly as possible with the EU Commission and other helpful EU member states how we can support Greece.
This also includes the distribution of refugees among those willing to take in the EU.
- Heiko Maas 🇪🇺 (@HeikoMaas) September 9, 2020
Moria refugee camp on Lesbos is on fire - Norway takes in 50 migrants
Unlike
Germany
,
Norway
acts
immediately.
The Norwegian government decided on Wednesday
to bring
50 people
from the camp to Norway, preferably families with children.
Prime Minister Erna Solberg
said the decision was made when the pictures of the fire were seen that morning.
The decision
to bring 50 asylum seekers to Norway
was made in May - provided eight to ten other countries do the same.
Because of the current situation, Norway did not want to wait any longer, said Solberg: "In the situation and the chaos that reigns now, we just have to get going."
Moria refugee camp almost completely destroyed - government and Union politicians are holding back with statements
Update
from September 9, 2020, 10.30 a.m.:
The
Moria refugee camp
on the Greek island of
Lesbos was
almost completely destroyed
in a
major fire
*.
That said two officers of the
fire brigade
on Wednesday on state television (ERT).
State television, which was allowed to report from the camp with a special permit, showed pictures of charred container apartments and burned tents around the camp.
The Greek interior minister and those responsible for the Corona crisis team wanted to get an idea of the situation on site and announce in the evening how it should proceed, said government spokesman Stelios Petsas.
Numerous fires broke out in and around the camp on Wednesday night.
The government speaks of
arson
and has strengthened the security forces on the island.
The
German government
has not yet issued a statement on the situation on
Lesbos
.
While numerous politicians from the
opposition and the SPD
have already
spoken
out on
and are demanding consequences, nothing has been heard from government members on social media in the morning hours.
There is still silence in the ranks of the Union.
Moria refugee camp on Lesbos: Fire largely under control - migrants monitored on the motorway
Update
September 9, 2020 9:27:
The
fire department
got the
fires in Moria
, despite the strong winds now largely under control, the reports
ARD correspondent Thomas Bormann
.
There are still no official reports about possible injuries or deaths.
However, Prime Minister
Kyriakos Mitsotakis
has called an emergency meeting.
The
12,000 migrants
are currently being monitored by the police on a highway, according to Stratos Kytelis, Mayor of the city of Mytilene.
"It's a very difficult situation because some of those out there have tested positive for the
coronavirus
," said the mayor.
Greece: Moria refugee camp on Lesbos in flames - Violent criticism of Horst Seehofer and the EU
Update from September 9, 2020, 8.44 a.m.:
The
fires in Moria are
causing
discussions in politics.
Katarina Barley (SPD
) speaks of an
“inferno with announcement”
and asks why the member states have closed their eyes to these conditions for so long.
Her party colleague
Kevin Kühnert also
calls on the
EU
to act: “First save people, then name the guilty.
The EU member states must evacuate Moria immediately.
Hundreds of municipalities and, in Germany, entire federal states have agreed to accept the membership.
Anyone who blocks now acts with intent. "
First save people, then name the guilty.
The EU member states must evacuate #Moria immediately.
Hundreds of municipalities and, in Germany, entire federal states have agreed to accept the membership.
Anyone who blocks now acts with intent.
https://t.co/zrTGLf0FQd
- Kevin Kühnert (@KuehniKev) September 9, 2020
The
domestic policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, Konstantin Kuhle
, also sees the blame on the EU: “The situation in and around
Moria
has been dangerous and explosive for many months.
During my visit in February I was able to convince myself that the EU must have an interest in relieving the camp.
The current escalation was predictable. "
NRW refugee minister Joachim Stamp (FDP) is
calling for a rapid reaction from the
federal government and the EU.
"It is pathetic that the EU watched so long until
this escalation occurred
in
Moria
," said Stamp on Wednesday.
Immediate action is now necessary in order not to let a catastrophe occur.
The countries had already offered help, said Stamp.
“The federal government has to take over the coordination.
Horst Seehofer
and
Heiko Maas
have so far remained inactive.
That has to change immediately. ”Since
Germany holds the EU Council Presidency
, it has a special responsibility.
"If the
EU is
not in a position to accommodate a few thousand migrants in a humane manner, it is a declaration of bankruptcy for the European system of values."
Greece: Moria refugee camp is completely on fire - migrants throw stones at firefighters
Update from September 9, 2020, 8:08 a.m.:
Whether the
fires in Moria were started
by
migrants
or
islanders
is still unclear - the information on this initially differed.
The head of operations reported on television that
camp residents had pelted
the
fire fighters
with
stones
after the
fire
and tried to prevent them from doing the extinguishing work.
Special units of the riot police were in action.
Videos on social media showed wandering, scared people and also those singing "Bye bye, Moria!"
Current pictures from #Moria.
Children and families try to flee.
pic.twitter.com/eZ48e3N49d
- MISSION LIFELINE (@SEENOTRETTUNG) September 8, 2020
Many of the more than 12,000
migrants
and
refugees
fled to the surrounding forests and hills, while others made their way to the island's capital,
Mytilini
, as reported by the Greek media.
Sometimes island residents opposed them and blocked the way.
There have
always been
tensions in
Moria
, because of the
corona problem
, the situation has now literally exploded,
Mytilinis Mayor Stratos Kytelis told
the
Greek state broadcaster ERT
.
One does not know where the people should be housed now, thousands are homeless.
The situation is also an enormous burden for the locals.
Greece: Moria refugee camp on Lesbos is completely in flames - was it arson?
First report from September 9, 2020:
Athens - On
Wednesday night,
several
fires
broke out
in the Greek
refugee camp Moria
on
Lesbos
.
According to media reports, residential containers are also on
fire
.
Therefore, the authorities had to
evacuate
the
camp
.
The
Greek
state
radio station ERT
reported in the early hours of the morning that almost everyone
had left the camp,
which was almost completely on
fire
.
Strong winds, some of which reached up to 60 kilometers per hour, fanned the
flames
.
Aid organizations and local volunteers reported on social media about people for whom smoke and flames had cut off their escape routes.
Greece: Moria refugee camp is completely in flames - Different information about causes
There
were different statements
about the causes of the
fire
: some
camp residents
spoke of
arson
by islanders, according to other reports
migrants
had set fire themselves and then prevented the
fire brigade
from extinguishing the fire.
Since Tuesday evening there has been a
forest fire
on the island
about 25 kilometers northwest of Moria, with which the fire brigade is fighting at the same time.
Moria is on fire.
There were always fires, but that's different, #Moria is burning.
I don't know who started the fires.
But I know that many want this degrading place to no longer exist.
We have failed politically for years.
Europe fails.
#leavenoonebehind pic.twitter.com/i2QYoO0OTU
- Erik Marquardt (@ErikMarquardt) September 8, 2020
The
Moria refugee camp
has been hopelessly overcrowded for years; according to the Greek Ministry of Migration, around
12,600 refugees and migrants are
currently living there
- with a capacity of just 2,800 places.
Since last week, more and more cases of
corona infections have
occurred, which is why the warehouse has been
quarantined
.
This also led to unrest among migrants.
It was announced on Tuesday that there were 35 infected people.
The
semi-state news agency ANA-MPA
reported that some refugees wanted to leave the camp to avoid becoming infected.
Some infected people, on the other hand, refused to leave the camp and be brought into isolation.
The catastrophic conditions in the refugee camp have already sparked many debates in German politics.
Individual federal states and cities wanted to accept refugees voluntarily.
However, Federal Interior Minister
Horst Seehofer
(CSU) had banned this.
Just recently, NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet also wanted to get an impression of the refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.
But the visit ends abruptly.
(dpa)
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen digital editorial network
List of rubric lists: © Panagiotis Balaskas / AP / dpa