Greece wants floating barrier to keep migrants out

Reuters

Greece wants to install a floating barrier in the Aegean Sea to deter migrants arriving at its islands' shores through Turkey, government officials said on Jan. 30.

Greeceserved as the gateway to the European Union for more than one millionSyrian refugees and other migrants in recent years. While anagreement with Turkey sharply reduced the number attempting thevoyage since 2016, Greek islands still struggle with overcrowdedcamps operating far beyond their capacity.

The2.7 kilometre long net-like barrier that Greece wants to buy will beset up in the sea off the island of Lesbos, where the overcrowdedMoria camp operates.

Itwill rise 50 centimeters above sea level and carry light marks thatwill make it visible at night, a government document inviting vendorsto submit offers said, adding that it was "aimed at containingthe increasing inflows of migrants."

"Theinvitation for floating barriers is in the right direction,"Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos told Skai Radio. "We willsee what the result, what its effect as a deterrent will be inpractice."

"Itwill be a natural barrier. If it works like the one in Evros... itcan be effective," he said, referring to a cement andbarbed-wire fence Greece set up in 2012 along its northern borderwith Turkey to stop a rise in migrants crossing there.

Aidgroups, which have described the living conditions at migrant campsas appalling, said fences in Europe had not deterred arrivals andthat Greece should focus on speeding up the processing of asylumrequests instead.

"Wesee, in recent years, a surge in the number of barriers that arebeing erected but yet people continue to flee," ΒorisCheshirkov, spokesman in Greece for U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, toldReuters. "Greece has to have fast procedures to ensure thatpeople have access to asylum quickly when they need it."

Lastyear, 59,726 migrants and refugees reached Greece's shores accordingto the UN agency UNHCR. Nearly 80 percent of them arrived on Chios,Samos and Lesbos.

Adefence ministry official told Reuters the floating fence would beinstalled at the north of Lesbos, where migrants attempt to crossover due to the short distance from Turkey.

If the 500,000 euro barrier is effective, more parts may be added and it could reach up to 15 kilometers, the official said.