Alternate Minister for Migration Yannis Mouzalas estimated that the refugees and immigrants trapped in Greece will remain in the country, while the refugee crisis will last 2-3 years.

Moreover, addressing to the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), he said that Idomeni will remain closed admitting that Greece from a transit country has been turned into a resettlement country. But, “Do not panic” he said “the situation is manageable”.

“In my opinion, we must consider the border at Idomeni closed. We have no reason to believe otherwise and we must prepare for the consequences of this action,” he said.

For as long as the Idomeni border crossing with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) remained closed and until the relocation and resettlement procedures were operational, “these people will stay in our country and some of them must receive the hospitality that accords with their legal status,” Mouzalas said.

The government was implementing a plan to provide temporary shelter, he added, but after the refugees were off the streets there would also have to be action to provide more adequate hospitality to those legally entitled.

KEDE President Giorgos Patoulis levelled strong criticism at the government, saying there was no national planning on the issue, while promising that local government will provide support to help address the problems. He asked the government to provide guidelines, however, such as the number of people that must be given shelter and for how long, to enable local authorities to suggest possible spaces.

“Spaces must be found that meet the requirements and standards to house human souls,” he said, while he also highlighted the need for additional staff, suggesting that 1,600 be hired on five-month contracts from May for this purpose.

Athens Mayor George Kaminis, meanwhile, said that KEDE should be involved in the planning stages and said the ministry’s tactic of talking to each municipality separately was mistaken.