The caretaker Minister of Migration Ioannis Mouzalas revealed that two new open refugee reception centers will be established in Lavrio and Sindos outside Thessaloniki. He also revealed that the caretaker government is seeking out suitable locations for additional centers.

Mr. Mouzalas noted that these two new centers would be similar to the one in Eleonas and is intended for the temporary accommodation of refugees before they are fully identified or depart for other destinations. “We will not turn our country into an endless camp” Mr. Mouzalas told the Athens-Macedonia News Agency.

In Lavrio, the PYRKAL facilities will be converted into a refugee camp, while in Sindos old building in the industrial area will be used. Both centers will have a capacity of about 500 to 700 people and are expected to begin operating in less than a month. The caretaker Minister estimated that the elections and appointment of a new government will not affect planning.

Furthermore Mr. Mouzalas underlined that the locations for the new camps were selected in coordination with local government officials and repeated that the caretaker government does not intend to request the activation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism.