Greece is now also closing its water borders. Refugees are to be prevented from reaching the mainland by boat with floating barriers, as “Bild” reports, citing a senior official of the Greek government.
The schedule for the project, which costs around half a million euros, is tight. As soon as it can be delivered and set up – it says in the tender – it should also be implemented immediately.
The decision is said to have been made by Deputy Defense Minister Alkiviadis Stefanis. This was formerly chief of staff in the armed forces. However, the officer did not want to reveal any more details about the structure of the barrier: “I only know that there will be openings for tourist boats to come by,” he told Bild.
Athens strengthens border surveillance: 1,200 new border guards
The Greek government plans to hire 1,200 new border guards in the coming months to deal with the influx of refugees from Turkey. The semi-official news agency ANA-MPA reported on Tuesday that the first 400 jobs had been advertised, citing the Ministry of Citizenship in Athens.
These 400 border police officers were to be deployed exclusively along the Greek-Turkish border river Evros (Turkish: Meric), it said. In a few weeks, a further 800 jobs will be advertised for the islands in the east of the Aegean, the state broadcaster (ERT) reported, citing the Ministry of Citizens’ Protection.
According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the number of migrants who came to Greece from Turkey had increased significantly in 2019. While a good 50,500 people arrived in 2018, the number of illegal migrants entering Turkey from Greece to Greece rose to a good 74,600 in 2019. The registration camps on the islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos are overcrowded.
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