Greece: Blaze hits second refugee centre on Lesbos as tensions continue
The latest incident comes as a tense stand-off continues between Turkey and the EU over the fate of millions of migrants.
Sunday 8 March 2020 18:14, UK
Fire has broken out at a second refugee centre on the Greek island of Lesbos in a week causing major damage to a warehouse.
The blaze at the facility for migrants comes after a reception centre was burned down by arsonists last Monday.
The warehouse, which contained furniture and electrical goods, was wrecked in the inferno, according to firefighters.
Lesbos, which lies just a few miles off the Turkish coast, is currently home to more than 21,000 migrants, leading to tensions with existing residents.
The fire comes as a tense stand-off continues between Turkey and the EU over who is responsible for the millions of migrants and refugees on Turkish territory.
Thousands of migrants headed for Turkey's land border with EU member Greece after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government announced earlier this month it would no longer prevent migrants and refugees from crossing over to EU countries.
Greece has sent riot police and border guards to turn back people trying to enter the country.
It has led to violent clashes between the migrants and Greek security forces, with officers in Greece firing tear gas to block the migrants and Turkish police firing tear gas back at their Greek counterparts.
On Saturday, youths threw rocks at Greek police and tried to pull down a border fence in a bid to enter Greece.
At least two migrants were injured in the confrontations.
Mr Erdogan has called on Greece to open its borders and allow the migrants to move on to other European countries.
Giving a speech in Istanbul, he said: "These people won't stay (in your country), they will move to other European countries.
"Why don't you open your gates too, let them go to other other countries, and rid yourself of this burden."
The Turkish leader will travel to Brussels on Monday to talk with EU officials about a 2016 agreement on containing refugee flows to Europe, which has now collapsed.
The two sides have accused each other of reneging on their commitments.
The deal called for Turkey to stop the movement of Europe-bound migrants and refugees in exchange for up to €6bn (£5.2bn) in aid for Syrian refugees on its territory, fast-track EU membership and visa-free travel to Europe for Turkish citizens.
Accusing the EU of failing to provide the promise money, Mr Erdogan has demanded Europe share more of the burden of caring for refugees.
He said that Turkey, which already hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, would no longer be Europe's gatekeeper.
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The decision has frustrated EU members, which are still dealing with the political fallout from a wave of mass migration five years ago.
EU foreign ministers have criticised Turkey, saying it is using the migrants' desperation "for political purposes".
Thousands of migrants have slept in makeshift camps near the border since the Turkish government said they were free to go, waiting for the opportunity to enter Greece.