On the Greek island of Samos, a migrant camp has been evacuated after a fire broke out

The ministry announced that the large fire that broke out on the evening of Sunday, September 19, in the migrant camp at the gates of the city of Vathy on the Greek island of Samos, was under control at the beginning of the night. Greek immigration.

“There is no danger to those who remain there because the fire broke out in an abandoned barracks in the western part of the camp.”The ministry added in a statement.

A little earlier, the mayor of Samos, Georgios Stantzos, told AFP that the camp had been completely evacuated. The AFP team found that several migrants were huddled in a car park near the camp, where children were crying.

According to the ministry, all asylum seekers have been moved to this empty land, near the entrance to the camp, and will be transferred on Monday to a new building that opened on Saturday. Ten unaccompanied minors were transferred on Sunday evening to the new camp, according to the same source.

Razor wire, X-ray scanners, magnetic doors

On the Aegean island of Samos, opposite Turkey, Vathy camp housed nearly 7,000 asylum seekers between 2015 and 2016, with an initial capacity of 680 people. About 300 people are still living there this weekend in unsanitary conditions and have agreed to be transferred to a new reception and reception centre. ‘censored and closed’They are due to report on Monday, according to the Greek Migration Ministry.

Barbed wire, X-ray scanners and magnetic doors: This camp is the first of its kind ” New generation “, opened on Saturday in Samos. Humanitarian organizations have decried the closed nature of the new camp: migrants will only be allowed out during the day, with electronic badges, and a detention center is planned for those who have refused asylum.

Vathy Camp has long been criticized for its unsanitary conditions, a veritable slum where mice roam at the island’s main town gates.

A year ago, the Moria camp, on the Greek island of Lesbos, was also criticized for its unsanitary conditions, turned to ashes Two consecutive fires, leaving about 13,000 migrants homeless for several days.