Migrant crisis continues to fuel tension on eastern Aegean isles

Clashes between Pakistani, Afghani illegal migrants on Kos

The latest developments with the migrant crisis on several eastern Aegean islands included continued arrivals at the port of Piraeus of Syrian refugees, people evacuated from the isles by the ferry boat “Eleftherios Venizelos”.
Nevertheless, the situation remained explosive on several isles, particularly ones where thousands of third world nationals — non-Syrians — continued to sneak onto Greek territory on the heels of the Syrian refugee crisis and what’s apparently a “hands down” policy by the outgoing SYRIZA government to deter migrant-smugglers and would economic migrants.

In the latest tension reported from the large island of Lesvos, one female coast guard officer was run over by rioting migrants at a former army camp turned into migrant reception center. The incident occurred on Sunday evening when around 150 third country nationals violently entered the camp. The officer was transported to a nearby hospital where she was diagnosed with a neck sprain.
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Authorities on the island said the former base is home to irregular migrants from Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and various African countries, with the substandard living conditions causing tension and regular brawls between the illegal migrants.
Meanwhile, on Kos, thousands of Syrian refugees remained, along with other people — mostly young males from Pakistan and Afghanistan — camped out practically in every public space in the island capital.
According to the Kostoday.com website, Sunday witnessed violent clashes between Pakistanis and Afghans, with injuries reported. Tensions were also high on the islands of Leros and Kalymnos, which have also surfaced on Turkish migrant-smugglers’ “radar” as “choice destinations” for off-loading their human cargo.
In the meantime, European media attention continues unabated, with reports from major media outlets emerging on almost a daily basis.
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