The situation remains critical at the Aguyia exhibition center in Chania, where migrants are expected to reach 1,140 following today’s arrivals in Gavdos. Coast Guard and Police personnel are present to provide care, though it remains unclear when they will be transferred to mainland Greece.
According to Deputy Mayor of Social Policy Eleni Zervoudaki speaking to zarpanews.gr, 342 people have remained at the exhibition center for 28 days. New arrivals from Gavdos are being transferred in groups to Chania and will also be housed in Aguyia. Despite stricter legislation regarding arrivals from North Africa, no measures have been implemented by the Ministry, leaving migrants trapped and relevant services in desperation.
The situation at the Aguyia Exhibition Center is dire, with mattresses on the floor, unified space without partitions, no air conditioning, two shared showers, and one toilet for 70-80 people. Meanwhile, skin conditions are spreading and there’s an outbreak of staphylococcus infections.
Coast Guard at breaking point – “We’ve become bank clerks, nurses, psychologists and paramedics”
Coast Guard officers have reached their limits, reporting that detainees often go on hunger strikes, stage mass protests, engage in disputes and attacks among themselves, creating daily explosive situations that colleagues handle without protection or training for such conditions.
They express outrage at the prevailing situation, stating in their announcement: “We have become bank clerks, nurses, psychologists and paramedics instead of performing our duty. Shifts are understaffed, with monthly reinforcement reduced from ten (10) to five (5) people, when at least thirty (30) personnel are needed for 24-hour guard duty in Aguyia and at the Hospital.”
Coast Guard officers demand immediate measures from the Ministry to manage the continuous migration flows in Chania.
Over 800 arrivals in the last 48 hours
Sunday afternoon saw another incident at Chrysostomos beach, three kilometers east of Kali Limenes, where 39 unidentified individuals were spotted disembarking without Frontex or Coast Guard presence. This adds to a series of arrivals recorded over the past two days, causing concern among authorities and local communities.
According to data, four groups arrived at Gavdos at dawn with 144, 60, 65 and 33 people, while early morning saw 38 rescued southwest of the island and brought there. Later, 71 migrants were collected south of Gavdos by a Frontex vessel and transferred to Chora Sfakion. In a subsequent operation, 166 people were spotted in two boats, with 49 transferred to Gavdos and 117 to Chora Sfakion. Saturday saw the situation peak with three boats and approximately 270 passengers south of Gavdos, plus the detection of a wooden vessel with 42 men south of Ierapetra, who were safely transferred to port and temporarily housed.
In total, since Saturday afternoon arrivals exceed 800, with coast guard authorities operating continuously to protect human life and ensure safe transport of migrants.
“We are desperate,” says Chania’s responsible deputy mayor
Deputy Mayor Eleni Zervoudaki, speaking to neakriti.gr and KRITI TV, noted: “In terms of capacity, the space can barely handle these numbers. But we’re already at our limits. We can’t respond anymore. The situation creates serious problems, both health and pathological issues, as well as tensions. There’s now fatigue and disappointment not only among the migrants themselves, but also in the Municipality, the coast guard and everyone involved. Mainly though in the Municipality, which cannot bear any more burden.”
“We are desperate,” declares the deputy mayor dramatically. “There’s a serious social and health problem,” she repeated, adding: “Doctors and volunteers who previously assisted have withdrawn, as they cannot continue to offer help under these conditions.”
She also emphasizes: “There are tensions with the 342 migrants who remain confined for more than a month. They don’t see sunlight, they’re in a state of panic. How can doctors examine them when people are revolting? On the health front, among them are small children, a pregnant woman, people with skin problems and psychiatric cases, forcing coast guard officers to also perform nursing duties.”
Finally, she highlights that from January 1st to today the Municipality has spent 830 thousand euros, noting characteristically: “The Municipality of Chania is a solidarity municipality for smaller municipalities that cannot cope, but it cannot function as a reception municipality.”
