Between 13,000 and 15,000 refugees stuck at the Greek-Macedonian border are living in dire conditions, Catholic charity CAFOD has warned.
Following recent border restrictions thousands of people have been stranded at Idomeni, as Macedonia says it will no longer let any more refugees and migrants cross its border with Greece.
Evelyn Karastamati, Emergency Coordinator for CAFOD’s partner, Caritas Greece, said some people are “sleeping in flimsy tents in fields” and others “have no shelter and are sleeping out in the open”.
“It’s a very tense atmosphere”, she said in a report to CAFOD. “It’s cold, people are trying to find anything to make a fire and keep warm. There’s a lack of tents and food. Many families with children have been waiting for days at the border.”
CAFOD is working with Caritas Greece to respond to the deteriorating situation for refugees and migrants on route to northern Europe. The charity has pledged £100,000 to scale up emergency aid so that urgently needed food and weather-proof clothing reaches refugees during these winter months, as well as installing basic chemical toilets and shower facilities. They are also providing food for people anxiously waiting the next stage of their journey in Athens at Piraeus Port.
Philippe Mougin, CAFOD’s Europe Emergency Programme Manager working with Caritas Greece, said: “Sadly, the numbers of vulnerable families seeking refuge continues to grow. Caritas Hellas is continuing to distribute food packages at Idomeni and we have increased the number of aid workers on the ground, so that we can reach more people with vital aid.”
In November, countries in the Balkans announced they would only allow in refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. In February Macedonia said it was halting access to Afghans. Meanwhile thousands of refugees continue to arrive every week in Greece.
According to the UN, at the end of 2015, more than a million refugees had crossed into Europe. The winter conditions have not stopped the desperate plight of people seeking safety in Europe, as the UN reports that 141,930 refugees have reached Europe by sea since the start of 2016.
Mr Mougin said: “We can no longer be in any doubt about the scale of this crisis. The EU must work together to ensure that human rights, safety and dignity of all refugees seeking refuge in the EU are upheld.”
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