Operations Cell Daily Report - 26 May
Transcript of Operations Cell Daily Report - 26 May
Key Developments
On 25 May, the Greek Alternate Minister of Migration Policy, Yannis Mouzalas, met the Regional Governor of Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and agreed that the refugee population present in Greece will be distributed fairly across the country by September. The Minister stressed that many current hosting centres in the Greek region of Macedonia will be closed and replaced by new sites across Greece, where refugees will be transferred to.
In Athens on Tuesday 24 May, the Vice Commandant of the US Coast Guard met with the Chief of the Greek Armed Forces to discuss Washington’s intention to contribute to patrols in the Aegean aimed at curbing irregular migration. This discussion comes after the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, expressed Washington’s interest in contributing naval forces to NATO’s mission in the Aegean. The US vessel is to join four NATO ships currently patrolling the Aegean, including the British Cardigan Bay, the Turkish Bodrum, the German Bonn, and the Dutch Van Amstel.
On the occasion of the G7 Summit to be held in Japan on 26 and 27 May, EU leaders are expected to focus their discussions on migration and refugee issues, among other topics. In particular, the G7 is expected to call for a global response to the current challenges,
and to commit to increased global assistance. In a joint statement ahead of the Summit, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, called on G7 Leaders to meet such expectations. However, they also stated that “because of geography, the most responsibility is and will continue to be placed on Europe”. Tusk also called on G7 Leaders to encourage other donors to also increase their efforts and, as well as to foster the establishment of resettlement schemes and other legal pathways around the world.
Death at Sea
The Italian Navy reported that a shipwreck occurred on Wednesday, 25 May, off the coast of Libya. During routine surveillance in the Strait of Sicily, the Navy vessel Bettica identified a boat in precarious conditions with approximately 500 people on board. The boat capsized due to overcrowding and instability. Rescue operations began immediately after, while the nearby Navy ship Bergamini sent a helicopter and naval rescue vessels. Over 500 people were rescued and seven bodies were recovered. Both the survivors as well as the bodies of the seven drowned people were taken aboard the Bettica.
Daily Report
26
1Arrivals to Greek IslandsYesterday
70Departures to Greece MainlandYesterday
0Departures to Turkeyon 25 May 2016
Key Figures
1,100
2,700 2,500
1,600 1,400
600
300 374
94 79 113 53 69 36 45 2
8-14 Feb 15-21 Feb 22-28 Feb 29 Feb -6 M ar 7 - 13 M ar 14-20 M ar 21-27 M ar 28 M ar-3 Apr 4-10 Apr 11-17 April 18-24 Apr 25 Apr-1 M ay 2-8 M ay 9-15 M ay 16-22 M ay 23-24 M ay
Average Daily Arrivals and Arrival Trends Greece
Average Daily Arrivals23-25 May
-95% from previous week
2Average Daily Arrivals
As of 25 May-63% from previous
month
42
Arrivals to Greek Islands19 May - 25 May
Chios arrivals Samos arrivals Kos arrivalsLesvos arrivals
Please note that information indicated to draw from press agencies, media outlets and social media does not reflect in any way the views and opinions of UNHCR and cannot be attributed to nor are these endorsed by UNHCR.
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01 Turkey
02 Greek IslandsArrivals: 1Present*: 8,467
Greece MainlandArrivals: 70Present*: 45,408
03 fYRoM**Arrivals: 0Present*: 417
04 SerbiaArrivals: 23Present*: 1,400
05 CroatiaArrivals: 0Present*: 69
06 HungaryArrivals: 106Present*: -
07 SloveniaArrivals: 0Present*: -
08 AustriaArrivals: -Present*: -
A LesvosArrivals: -to Mainland: 59to Turkey: -
B ChiosArrivals: -to Mainland: 7to Turkey: -
C SamosArrivals: -to Mainland: -to Turkey: -
D LerosArrivals: -to Mainland: 4to Turkey: -
E KosArrivals: 1to Mainland: -to Turkey: -
OtherArrivals: -to Mainland: -to Turkey: -
Estimated Arrivals and People Present* per CountryYesterday
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
01
Greek Islands and Turkey: Estimated Arrivals and Transfers
B
C
01
02
A
D
E
* Number of people present in Greece and estimated number of people currently present in countries along the previous route not applying for asylum** The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (please note that the fYRoM abbreviation is used for design purposes)
Meetings
26 MayCommittee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs extraordinary summit, Brussels
26-27 MayG7 Summit, Ise-Shima, Japan
27-28 MayConference on the Protection of Human Rights of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants, Greece
30 MayCommittee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Brussels
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Timeline Overview
4 April• 202 people returned to Turkey from Greece
3 April• New law implemented highlighting the creation of the Reception and Identification Service, restructuring of the Asylum Service, the creation of an Appeals’ Authority, and the creation of new Regional Asylum Offices
18 - 19 March• EU-Turkey Statement
20 March• EU-Turkey Statement of 18 March implemented
15 April• “No visa-free travel, no agreement” says Turkey’s EU minister
6 April• European Commission published communication on reforms to Common European Asylum System (CEAS)
7 April• Turkish government made an amendment to the Temporary Protection Regulation regarding Syrian nationals who irregularly travel to Europe and are returned to Turkey from Greek islands
27 April• 12 Syrian nationals returned to Turkey from Greece by flight
• Turkey amends labour legislation to grant those holding subsidiary protection work permits
19 April• Facility for Refugees in Turkey: Commission delivers an additional €110 million under the implementation of EU-Turkey agreement, Brussels
21 April• EU interior ministers formally agreed on a proposal for a new border and Coast Guard force that could intervene in under-pressure countries like Greece to slow the influx of migrants.
23 April• Merkel and EU officials visit Turkey camp
9 May• 13 returned allegedly did not have opportunity to apply for asylum in Greece
4 May• European Commission ‘backs’ Turkey visa liberalisation• European Commission proposes a coordinated EU approach for temporary internal border controls regarding prolonging proportionate controls at certain internal Schengen borders, namely in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Norway for a maximum period of six months.
6 May• Bulgaria to readmit irregular arrivals to Turkey from June 1
18 May• Relocation and Resettlement: EU Member States must act to sustain current management of flows
• The Turkish President has approved the legislative framework regarding the EU-Turkey Statement of 18 March with regards to the readmission of people from Greece
19 May• 4 Syrian nationals returned to Turkey from Greece• Commission reports on state of fundamental rights in the EU• According to media reports at the NATO summit of Foreign Ministers held in Brussels, NATO discussed the possibility of broader EU-NATO cooperation in the Mediterranean
8 April• 124 people returned to Turkey from Greece
25 April• 36 people returned to Turkey from Greece
26 April• 49 people returned to Turkey from Greece
20 May• 51 people returned from Greece to Turkey by boat• The European Commission awarded €56 million in emergency funding to improve conditions for refugees and migrants in Greece.
• Justice and Home Affairs Council, EU Interior Ministers discussed the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement of 18 March, broader responses to the situation, relocation, the European Border and Coast Guard, and visa policy
24 May• The European Commission awarded €25 million in emergency funding to the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) to enhance its capacity to further support the Greek authorities.
23 May• The Foreign Affairs Council discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation with the countries of origin and transit through a common EU approach. The Council also discussed and adopted conclusions on EUNAVFOR Med Operation Sophia, as well as on the EU regional strategy for Syria and Iraq
Readmissions from Greece to Turkey under the EU-Turkey Statement of 18 March
Highlights
Please note that information indicated to draw from press agencies, media outlets and social media does not reflect in any way the views and opinions of UNHCR and cannot be attributed to nor are these endorsed by UNHCR.
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Social Media
AYS Daily News Digest: the second day of the evacuation of Eidomeni camp was much slower as officials removed refugees who were blocking the railway. The delay in operations was reportedly due to lack of cooperation from refugees as they did not want to be relocated to Vagiochori camp. Others left Eidomeni and went to BP station and/or Hotel Hara, the closest unofficial camps to Eidomeni. MSF remains the only medical organisation allowed into Eidomeni camp. Protests by volunteers against the removal of the refugees caused the highway to be blocked for half an hour.
Protests also took place at Moria where people demonstrated against the living conditions in the detention centre by marching into Lesvos.
General Media
In remembrance of toddler Aylan Kurdi, three years old when he died trying to reach Europe, the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, Italy, have selected Caravaggio painting Sleeping Cupid (1608). According to an
article published by Italian news agency Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA), the painting was chosen to represent all children who perished at sea, those that were born during the crisis, as well as those who were rescued and managed to survive. An inaugural exhibition at Lampedusa’s Museum of Trust and Dialogue for the Mediterranean is set to open on 3 June 2016.
Twitter Activity
MSF Sea announced that a train has managed to pass through Eidomeni for the first time since the border between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece was closed on 8 March 2016.
Current Statistics for #idomeni
• 29 tweets, 221 retweets per hour• Over 393,000 impressions per hour
17,100Total number of tweets
37,500Total number of retweets
3,137,000Total number of impressions
#refugees over the last week(18 - 25 May)
Key Figures from the Portal
Athens
Istanbul
Izmir
Bodrum
Thessaloniki
KavalaIdomeni
Aegean Sea
GREECE
TURKEYIonian Sea
Sea of Crete
THE FORMERYUGOSLAV
REPUBLIC OFMACEDONIA
ALBANIA
ITALY
BULGARIA
Main routes throughthe Mediterranean
Sea arrivals in 2016
*Serbia (AND KOSOSVO: S/RES/1244 (1999))
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do notimply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations
Demographics
78%12%10%
MenChildren Women
2015 2016Comparison of monthly Mediterranean sea arrivals
Increasing numbers of refugees and migrants take their chances aboard unseaworthy boats anddinghies in a desperate bid to reach Europe. The vast majority of those attempting this dangerouscrossing are in need of international protection, fleeing war, violence and persecution in theircountry of origin. Every year these movements continue to exact a devastating toll on human life.
top 10 refugeeproducing countriesof arrivals come from the world's90%arrivals by sea in 2015856,723
arrivals by sea in 2016156,15022 May 2016Last updated
of the sea arrivals100%Top10 nationalities represent
Top10 nationalities of Mediterranean sea arrivals
Download excel data
Syrian ArabRepublic
49%
Afghanistan 25%
Iraq 15%
Pakistan 4%
Iran 3%
Others 3%
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
38% 21% 40%
based on arrivals since 1 Jan 2016
based on arrivals since 1 Jan 2016
Refugees/Migrants Emergency Response - Greece24 May 2016
http://data.unhcr.org/mediterranean
Piraeus2,169
Elliniko I1,0351,400
Elliniko III905
1,300
Elliniko II1,1511,300
Eidomeni10,172
EKO Gas station1,137
Nea Kavala3,9592,500
Diavata2,3342,500
Eleonas1,6211,500
Cherso3,9872,500
Europe Refugee EmergencyDaily map indicating capacity and occupancy (Governmental figures) As of 4 May 2016 08:00 a.m. EET
A
A
B
B
Schisto1,8502,000
Chalkero280350
Thermopiles290400
Lesvos4,1453,500
Chios2,2671,100
Samos1,047
850
Leros494
1,000
Kos152
1,000 Rhodes99
Drama518500
Presence and capacity are based on Governmental figures from the Coordination Centre for the Management of the Refugee Crisis, as of 04/05/2016 08:00 a.m. Eastern European Time. Online map with additional information: http://www.unhcr.gr/sites
Thessaloniki port382400
Doliana226400
Konitsa167150
Filipiada574700
Ritsona717
1,000 Malakasa1,2901,500
Lavrio391400
Agios Andreas188120
Larisa (Koutsochero)795
1,500
Katsika993
1,500
Pieria (Camping Nireas)393400
Giannitsa801900
Pieria (Stadium)319400
Veria400400
Pieria (Ktima Iraklis)198200
Lavrio (Accom. Facility)501250
Reception and Identification Centers(Closed facilities)
Alexandreia816
1,200
Andravidas338300
Megisti00
Informal sites and settlements
Moria
Vial
Lepida
Transit sites
Skaramagas dock2,8802,880
Pieria (Petra Olympou)957
1,100
UNHCR Sub Office
UNHCR Field UnitKalymnos
80
Vathy
UNHCR Country Office
Temporary sites
SitePeople on siteCapacity
Oinofyta42
300
Total Mainland45,519 people on sites
34,150 capacity
Total Islands 8,212 people
7,450 capacity
Volos79
200
Tsepelovo143200
Lagadikia286
Oreokastro235
1,500
Please note that information indicated to draw from press agencies, media outlets and social media does not reflect in any way the views and opinions of UNHCR and cannot be attributed to nor are these endorsed by UNHCR.
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