Idomeni: Refugees’ rage over closed borders grows – NGOs leave the camp

The situation in Idomeni is unstable, while many NGOs were forced to leave the makeshift camp

The rage and frustration of more than 12,000 stranded immigrants and refugees in Idomeni is now clearly expressed, while some of them take it out on members of NGOs who until yesterday were the only people who were supporting and helping them.

The situation in Idomeni is unstable and will soon be totally out of control, while yesterday’s incident when two refugees set fire to themselves forced many NGOs to leave the makeshift camp. Doctors Without Borders have already left the camp, while one of its member told protothema.gr that “in the morning we will return to Idomeni. If the situation is stable, we will stay”.

GREECE-EUROPE-MIGRANTS

UNHCR also left the place announcing that it will suspend its actions on Greek islands, too, until further notice, expressing its opposition to government’s decision to turn hot spots to closed structures. “We left the camp when the incidents broke out. We are there to help them. But if any actions put our members’ physical health at risk, then we will leave, ” said a UNHCR member to protothema.gr.

The refugees and immigrants were shouting ‘go, go, no food, no water’ to the volunteers and lay on the railway lines protesting against the EU-Turkey agreement that keeps them stranded in Greece, while the parents hardly agreed to give some food and milk to their children. “Late at night, we gave food and milk to their children. At first, the parents were opposed to that, but then they accepted it,” a member of Praxis told protothema.gr.

Children protesting in Idomeni