The arrivals of migrants continue to concern local authorities in Gavdos, with flows continuing at an unrelenting pace after the boats that arrived in the island area during the weekend. According to information, 130 more migrants arrived in Gavdos, adding further burden, with authorities called upon to manage a large volume of arrivals and the Migration Ministry working feverishly for decongestion. As shown in video and photos secured by parapolitika.gr, another crowd of migrants arrived in Gavdos, with people clearly visible at the port.
Migration crisis in Crete: The overcrowding scene in Chania
A tense situation prevailed earlier on Tuesday afternoon in Agia, Chania, when a bus with 109 foreigners rescued overnight off Gavdos in two new incidents arrived at the temporary migrant accommodation facility. Of the 936 migrants currently in Agia, some, according to ERT information, reacted to more people arriving at the facility already under great pressure, while others were happy as they found familiar faces among the newcomers.
By evening, 130 migrants are expected to arrive in Agia from Gavdos – the 100 who arrived yesterday on the island including 11 women and 9 children, and the 30 new migrants who arrived today by boat on a cliff beach in the Vatsiana area. Specifically, in the evening hours approximately 200 migrants from Sudan currently in Agia are expected to depart by ferry bound for Malakasa, while the plan is for the facility to be emptied by the end of the week. Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of local bodies has been scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at the Chania regional unit regarding migration.
Crete and Gavdos “drowning” in migrants
Meanwhile, as announced by Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris, approximately 600 people are expected to leave Crete, but it is not certain that these will be residents of Agia. It should be noted that in Rethymno there are another 100 people, in Heraklion 150 and in Lasithi another 40.
Emergency meeting at Chania Regional Unit on migration
It should be noted that on Wednesday 17/09, at 1 p.m., an emergency meeting will take place at the Chania Regional Unit, focusing on the issue of increased migration flows and their management. The leadership of the Migration and Asylum Ministry may also attend.
The truth about the video showing bathers pushing a boat in Gavdos
Regarding the video posted on social media showing bathers in Gavdos pushing a boat, it appears they were actually helping it get unstuck and directing it toward the port of Karave – where it eventually arrived – rather than trying to drive it away.
Plevris: ”Crete will be fully decongested of migrants in the next two days”
Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris spoke of the arrival of approximately 850 migrants within two days, speaking to ERT news. As the minister said, “decongestion of the island began yesterday and within two to three days everyone will have left,” with transfer to facilities decided by the ministry. Furthermore, Thanos Plevris clarified that migrants arriving on Greek territory are either detained or have restricted freedom, as asylum suspension applies to those who cross borders illegally. “These are not accommodation facilities, but detention centers, as these people are considered detainees,” he emphasized.
Thanos Plevris mentioned that Crete recorded 689 arrivals in August and new increased flows in the first days of September, peaking during September 12-15 when 850 people arrived. “The phenomenon is being examined whether it is coincidental or connected to aggressive action by trafficking networks or other instrumentalization purposes,” he said. The minister continued saying that despite the increase in flows to Crete, an 11% decrease is recorded in the eastern Aegean. Additionally, the minister clarified that approximately 600 migrants will be transferred from Crete today. When asked if other facilities have space, he replied: “Existing facilities have capacity, however the issue is not limited only to occupancy, but also concerns the need for police guarding as residents are considered under suspension status.”
It was also noted that Crete has become a main entry point for migrants, with over 12,000 arrivals in the first eight months of the year, out of 27,000 for the entire country. “It must be fully understood that the facility in Crete will be created either with consensus or without,” it was emphasized, recalling that similar facilities already operate in Lesvos, Samos, Kos and Chios.
The migration bill
The minister spoke about the migration bill that will be submitted to the next cabinet meeting. As he states, this includes 3 basic elements:
- regularization of approximately 290,000 pending applications,
- simplification of procedures for legal migration,
- and integration of recognized refugees into the labor market, so that “they don’t live on benefits but work.”
Migration: SOS from Gavdos mayor to parapolitika.gr about migrant boats
The difficult and unpredictable situation that seriously burdens the non-existent, as she says, infrastructure of Greece’s smallest island was described earlier to parapolitika.gr and journalist Dimitra Tsipi by the island’s mayor, Lilian Stefanaki. Speaking about recent developments, Ms. Stefanaki notes that migrant arrivals over the past weekend were again increased, while new arrivals were also recorded on Monday. “During the weekend we indeed had another flow of migrants, but they left. We finished with that. They left on Sunday, on Monday some others came again, another boat. Now I don’t know how this situation will continue. There are some who we don’t know if they will have left by Tuesday morning. In Gavdos there is no infrastructure for them to stay. They leave as quickly as possible from the island. They are forwarded to Crete and from there to mainland Greece.”
The Gavdos mayor explains to parapolitika.gr that a basic pending issue each time is the transfer of migrants, which depends on the availability of Coast Guard and Frontex vessels. “Our issue now is when the transfer can be made, as it requires a Coast Guard vessel. Frontex will take them to transport them across. We still don’t know when the migrants who arrived on Monday will leave, possibly the same evening.”
Gavdos: ”Migration is not a normal situation”
Lilian Stefanaki clearly states that managing migration flows cannot continue to burden the island and municipality, which neither has the resources nor the jurisdiction for such crises. “Migration is not a normal situation. We try not to let it affect the daily life of residents. It’s a burden that we shouldn’t have to carry. We contribute as much as we can so people can eat and sleep. This is done at the expense of the municipality’s budget. We need to arrange for their transfer, as there is no infrastructure. The municipality has no staff either. There are only two coast guards, but they too have reached their limits with so many people and so many boats coming.”
Although general responsibility for transport belongs to the state and Coast Guard, movement of people within the island has been left entirely to the municipality, she explains. “The transfer of migrants from Gavdos to Crete has been undertaken by the state and Coast Guard. However, transport within the island has been undertaken by the municipality. Without cars, only with an old truck we have.”
The mayor confirms there is some financial support from the State, but clarifies this doesn’t change the essence of the problem. Although there is some financial support, she clarifies: “This is not the role of the municipality. It is not the subject of local government to manage migration crises. Our responsibilities are for the island’s residents, not to carry a burden that doesn’t belong to us.” The Gavdos mayor sends a clear message to the State. As Lilian Stefanaki emphasizes, without substantial intervention, small islands won’t be able to withstand much longer the pressure being exerted on them. “The problem must be solved, as we don’t see the situation improving, unfortunately.”
