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Greece: Deadly fire triggers riots at Moria refugee camp

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Greece: Deadly fire triggers riots at Moria refugee camp


At least one person has died after a fire broke out at an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, local officials say.

They say the charred body of a woman was found at Moria camp. But unconfirmed reports say there was another victim, a child.

Police later fired teargas against rioting migrants, who said firefighters were too slow to respond to the blaze.

The camp houses about 12,000 people in tents and shipping containers.

But it only has an official capacity of 3,000 – leading to severe overcrowding.

People stand near a burning container at the Moria refugee camp, Lesbos, Greece. Photo: 29 September 2019Image copyrightREUTERS
Image captionThe fire started at one of the shipping containers housing refugees
A refugee holds a boy and protects himself from tear gas fired by police at the Moria camp. Photo: 29 September 2019Image copyrightAFP/GETTY IMAGES
Image captionMigrants – both adults and children – tried to avoid tear gas fired by Greek police

 

In 2018, the UN refugee agency urged Greece to move asylum seekers from Lesbos after the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme exposed appalling conditions there.

Lesbos has been hit hard by the migrant crisis, with the local authorities deadlocked over what to do with new arrivals.

Refugees attack a housing facility at the Moria camp. Photo: 29 September 2019Image copyrightEPA
Image captionAngry men earlier attacked housing facilities at the camp

 

Greece has also been dealing with a resurgence in recent weeks of refugee and migrant flows from neighbouring Turkey.

Nearly one million refugees, including many fleeing war in Syria, crossed from neighbouring Turkey to the Greek islands in 2015.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49873950

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