“As Greece is tightening the border controls in Evros, including the completion of a 10.5km fence last December, people take more and more dangerous routes. This was a tragedy waiting to happen,’’ said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Director of the Europe and Central Asia Programme.
Lesvos is one of the main crossings for migrants and refugees trying to enter the European Union via Greece. © Getty Images |
“It is vital that the Greek authorities ensure protection to all asylum-seekers
reaching the country. Instead, the Greek asylum system is grossly failing them.
People who flee conflict, including many Syrians and Afghans who make it to the
shores of Lesvos, are detained in police
stations in overcrowded and poor conditions or in many cases left destitute to
sleep in the streets.”