Daily Report
Planning and Preparation
The Council of the EU adopted regulations setting up an emergency support mechanism to support Greece and other member states overwhelmed by the arrival of large numbers of refugees. This translates a previous commitment by the European Council into practice. It enables the EU to provide a timely and effective response to the strenuous situation developing rapidly on the ground. Budgetary amendments would be required as the next step of this process.
Arrivals and Departures:
More than 8,000 people are present on Greek islands. Reception and temporary accommodation facilities are filled beyond capacity, particularly on Lesvos and Chios, despite the number of arrivals having decreased on Tuesday, 15 March, due to adverse weather.
Condition of People:
EU Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos, accompanied by European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas, visited Eidomeni. The statement made highlighted that relocation should immediately take the dimension of a humanitarian evacuation: “we have already increased the pledges from Member States and now it is urgently time to deliver. In parallel, the European Asylum Support Office is supporting the enormous efforts made by the Greek authorities to directly accept and act on these pledges. We need to reach 6000 relocations per month. Until then, I fully support the Greek Government’s efforts to inform and persuade these people to be transferred to reception centers, with decent living and sanitary conditions, until their legal transfer is organised. The urgent needs of these people must be met immediately, whether they are in reception centers or here in Eidomeni.”
UNHCR is working with authorities and partners to address urgent needs. On Lesvos, UNHCR, authorities and partners are continuously reassessing accommodation capacities and contingencies. An emergency planning meeting was convened by the Lesvos representative of the Alternate Ministry for Migration Policy, attended by Army, Police, UNHCR, IRC, and MSF. On Samos, UNHCR’s partner Samaritan Purse moved 5 Refugee Housing Units from Malagari Port to Vathy Hotspot and 3 are already in use for accommodation. Around 200 tents provided by MSF and volunteers are accommodating people at Vathy Hotspot. All food distributions at Vathy Hotspot and Malagari Port are carried out by volunteers. On Thursday, in both sites, Apostoli/IOCC will deliver 3 meals a day via catering services.
Critical Developments
UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie will visit Lesvos today.
Brussels is already struggling to secure unanimous support at an EU summit this week for the agreement of proposals made on 7 March, which is backed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel but has met objections from at least six member countries, with stiff opposition from Cyprus and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Regarding the detailing of proposals made on 7 March at the EU summit with Turkey, to be agreed upon on Thursday 17 March, a significant detail vehiculated in Brussels is that the European Commission would advise Greece to drastically speed up processing of asylum requests to a week, rather than months, in order to avoid scuppering a potential deal with Turkey to slow down the inflow of refugees. Greece may be recommended to set up one-stop shops that would accept or reject asylum requests and go through the requisite legal appeals process, from the first instance to the final court appeal in a swift manner.