We may not be reliving last year’s nightmare with the endless flow of refuges, however the situation with all those trapped in our country is far from rosy. The conditions on the islands are more than difficult, with the local residents and refugees having reached their limit, while the situation in many of the accommodation centers ranges from bad to unacceptable, as admitted by the minister in charge. The summer may temporarily mask the problem, but the winter is expected to be hard.

Let us not forget that the port of Piraeus was evacuated a few weeks ago, while the situation at Elliniko remains problematic. With the EU-Turkey agreement clearly at risk of collapsing there is no justification for the government relaxing, which is constantly struggling to catch up. When it cannot monitor the thousands of refugees already in the country, one can understand what will happen if the flow increases once again.

Obviously Mr. Mouzalas is correct when he notes that the refugees in a civilized country have the right to education, healthcare and housing, only all this sounds idealistic in a country where the government cannot cover the needs of its permanent residents. In what schools and with what teachers will the 15,000 refugee children stuffy, when the infrastructure and teaching staff have reached their limits?

When we cannot address the food problem, when SYRIZA MPs denounce scandalous contracts, when we build accommodation centers wherever and however, it is clear that sooner or alter the problem will become explosive once again. Individual efforts and solidarity of everyone sensitized are not enough anymore.

What is needed is a comprehensive plan, organizing and mobilizing the state mechanism in order to be prepared. Just like the government needs to demand help from Europe, so that the islands that have undertaken and continue to undertake the greatest burden may face the impact of the refugee crisis on their economy. With good intentions and theories of solidarity all that we will achieve is temporarily covering up the major problems ahead of us…

TO VIMA