Greek refugee camp Ritsona: "These walls make us lonely"

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This is where Greece's tightened refugee policy becomes visible: Camp Ritsona, an hour's drive north of Athens, is sealed off by a concrete wall; it now looks like a fortress.

Notis Mitarachi, Greek migration minister:

»Our policy is strict, but fair.

We have to make sure that the rules are followed in the camps.

With this we protect those who live in the camp, for whom it is a temporary home.

And we protect employees and the local community. "

At Camp Ristona there are shops for daily needs, a butcher and a café with Arabic music.

The walls may protect against external threats - but they also prevent on-site integration.

Amir, refugee from Afghanistan:

»They separate us from other communities and make us lonely.

We get the feeling that we are completely different people from the Greeks here. "

Parwana Amiri, escaped from Afghanistan:

»The walls are

constricting

us.

I feel like I'm in a prison, that's tough. "

Unfortunately, the residents of the camp are locked away, which can exacerbate trauma from wars and conflicts.

The organization Doctors Without Borders fears a humanitarian crisis.

The doctors treat more than 1,300 refugees in the Greek reception camps for mental health problems, a third of whom are children.

Christina Psarra, Doctors Without Borders:

»There was even a six-year-old child here with thoughts of suicide.

All children want to live in a safe environment.

What you see here cannot even begin to be compared with a safe and peaceful place. "

Migration Minister Mitarachi defends the tougher measures with the lack of help from the EU. Greece and other Mediterranean countries would be left alone in dealing with the refugee crisis. Now the government is increasingly relying on border controls - as here last year on the Evros River - and wants to set up more closed camps on the islands of Samos and Lesbos.

Last year, a fire destroyed Camp Moria on the island of Lesbos and brought the dramatic situation of the refugees into focus for weeks. The rejection of refugee boats on the coasts by the Greek coast guard was also sharply criticized. The government rejected the allegations and stressed that Greece did not want to be a gateway to Europe for smugglers. In June she described Turkey as a safe country for asylum seekers - which makes it even more difficult for migrants to obtain asylum in Greece and to be able to stay in Europe permanently.