Reuters – Greeks gathered to show support to refugees in the port city of Piraeus in the past weekend.
Some threw leaflets to sky, on which printed Arabic slogans saying the western countries should be blamed for leaving so many homeless after wars. The protesters said opening the border is in accordance with humanitarian principles and they oppose the decision of the European Union deporting refugees. Some leaflets said the Greeks will stand together with the refugees.
The city of Piraeus was once a hub for refugees to enter Europe. There were once over 3,000 refugees arrived in Piraeus each day last summer. However, trains and buses stopped after Macedonia closing its railway port with Greece in March, leaving around 5,000 refugees trapped in Piraeus.
The refugee camp in Piraeus now is operated by over 100 international volunteers. The conditions there are better than that of the camps on Greece’s other islands.
But the volunteers are still facing challenges, with around 50 pregnant women in need of medical care.
“You know, they do not have money, they just talking. They may be given some medicine, but not the care. These people, nobody give any care.They do not get medical help. All they are given are medicine, that’s all,” said Williams, a volunteer from Netherlands.
And as summer is drawing close, the high temperature will bring diseases to the block.
Up to 250 refugees have been deported to Turkey in two groups on April 4 and 8. Many refugees have applied for asylum in Greece and the Greek government needs more time to go through all papers. The third batch of refugees will be deported two weeks later