On the 6th of January, an invitation to contractors for emergency needs to strengthen the system of reception of immigrants and refugees in Lesvos was issued by the Greek government totaling a whopping 15 million Euros. The budget provided is allegedly for heating, motor oil, transport of non food items, restoring housing areas, strengthening the health system, and the expansion of the capacity of the Mavrovouni camp. While 15 million euros is already an unfathomable amount of capital to comprehend, the vague description of where this money is supposed to go leaves a lot of questions, which deserve a closer look:
Regarding the Supply of heating and motor oil, would this mean that the camp will have a steady electricity provision for the whole camp ensuring people can use their heaters when its cold? One could mistake this statement as benevolence from the Greek government. benevolence from the same government that rationed the electricity during the coldest months of the year? After 3 full winters of heating lacking in this specific camp, only now it became a concern worth addressing!
Does restoring damage to houses and housing areas mean that the showers are getting fixed or that the current rub halls will be replaced again for a slightly more dignifying human living space like an isobox? Considering the latest developments, it will likely be to invest in more rub halls, to inflate the capacity of the camp even more without providing any form of comfort or minimal privacy.
Does the supply of transport services of non-food items mean that finally there will be a steady supply of woman hygiene products, fulfilling a great gap in needs that have been recurrent issue over the years? If history repeats itself, it will turn out like the contracts made with the suppliers of meals to the camp, where an incredible amount of funding disappeared for small moldy food portions, and with shortages to provide the whole camp.
Does strengthening the capacity of regional services of the Ministry of Health mean that there will be a provision accessible for the population of the camp in creams against the many pests that are going on? Or are we ending up in the same position, where these pests are considered an epidemic but not life threatening, and are expected to solve themselves over time?
Lastly, why is the camp in need for expansion if the population is supposedly on average more than 2500 persons under capacity? Isn’t it supposed to close in the next months to give way to the next step of dehumanization of migrants that is Vastria? Then why invest this amount of money into Mavrovouni, if according to the new Pact of migration the opening of Vastria will be the next celebrated milestone on Lesvos of the “European Solutions to the Common Challenge of Migration”? A celebration of denying entry to people fleeing life threatening situations. They are looking for a better life in the utopia that Europe is made out to be, with the simple prospect of living a life like any other European by birth. Only to realize that Europe will abuse and spit on all of them to wonder if leaving their previous situation was even worth it.
What a slap in their faces to hear the prime minister Mitsotakis claim “we don’t fear the term integration; we are an open society that has proven its willingness to embrace those seeking to integrate into Greek society. Making their stay here permanent is a natural consequence”. If facilities functioning as prisons like the Closed controlled access Centre (CCAC) in Samos, or the upcoming Vastria are a proof of willingness to embrace integration, one can ask themselves what it would mean to be despised and rejected by such people. But who are we to condemn the actions and words of Mitsotakis if the European Union simply pads him on the back? Ylva Johansson, the EU commissioner of Home Affairs, praised Greece for taking significant steps forward in the handling of the issue of improving the system of legal migration. It is left to wonder whether the hundreds of individuals illegally pushed back monthly in the Aegean are one of the steps towards improvement, or were conveniently forgotten.
In the end, deep inside, we know where this money is going. If it doesn’t end in the pockets of corruption, it will end up in the surveillance, control and further degradation of the people in the camp. Ah Well, there is only one question left to ask to you as a reader:
WHAT THE FUCK?
Pictures by “Cartooning for Peace”
A cooperation with NBK