Quick update from Chios: Contrary to reports from the news the new ‘Hotspot’ on Chios has not yet opened yesterday. A few refugees yesterday were brought there for the media, but it just opened this day. It remains to be seen how this device has a genuine effect on the lives of refugees and the work of the Supporter. Sure seems, it is a prison, in the middle of nowhere and in the mountains – the refugees will be isolated from the rest of the island. Among the supporter the early opening of the hotspots is a reason why a majority want to leave the island. They have the fear that with the opening of the Hotspot it will be impossible to support the refugees. However, work will also continue to exist, outside the hotspot because it will continue to people coming to the island.
The sea is quiet again, so boats come again to Chios. There are many people still waiting for the departure on the Turkish side. Surprisingly, the boats come now more on the day and not as previously more at night. Four boats were probably sent back by the Turkish Coast Guard. For us there is a suspicion that Turkey a part of the boat sends back to show they would act forcefully against those crossings. (Luckily) they do not do that.
In the darkness, came a time of so many people that they were probably brought by a large and attached boat and not by a boat. Unlike predicted months ago, there are not less but more people fleeing across the Mediterranean.
We will try you in the running to keep. Although the European countries getting more tough, it needs here locally independent supporter inside to pick up people from the beach, probably soon returning from Macedonia asylum support , inside to report on the situation and to keep a critical eye , We need your help, whether with your donation, locally or in the you talk about the situation, and other information.