Schisto hot spot opens as thousands of refugees arrive in Piraeus

The hot spot at Schisto has opened to welcome some of the thousands of refugees who are stranded in Piraeus, following the decision of Serbia and FYROM to close their borders to Afghans.

The Coast Guard announced that the situation at the port of Piraeus has normalized, at the initiative of the Ministry of Shipping, the police and local government bodies. The announcement also explained that the weather conditions at sea prevented ships from setting sail from the islands, further exacerbating the problems. Buses began transferring the refugees to the camps around noon, with about 1,000 still around the port.

The former military base at Schisto that has been converted can accommodate about 1,500 people, while two other temporary camps have been set up in Eleonas (Votanikos) and Elliniko. Combined, these three camps can barely manage to provide the necessary care to the refugees arriving in Athens.