Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-03-22

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] EU heads of state, institutions say Brussels terror was 'attack against open society'

[02] UNHCR, aid NGOs pull out of hotspots and refugee camps as protests intensify

[01] EU heads of state, institutions say Brussels terror was 'attack against open society'

"The European Union mourns the victims of today's terrorist attacks in Brussels. It was an attack on our open democratic society. Our common European institutions are hosted in Brussels, thanks to the generosity of the government of Belgium and the Belgian people. The European Union and its member-states stand firm with Belgium in solidarity and are determined to face this threat together with all necessary means," the statement reads.

"This latest attack only strengthens our resolve to defend the European values and tolerance from the attacks of the intolerant. We will be united and firm in the fight against hatred, violent extremism and terrorism," it concluded.

[02] UNHCR, aid NGOs pull out of hotspots and refugee camps as protests intensify

"UNHCR has till now been supporting the authorities in the so-called 'hotspots' on the Greek islands, where refugees and migrants were received, assisted, and registered. Under the new provisions, these sites have now become detention facilities," Fleming said.

The UNHCR said it will maintain a presence to carry out protection monitoring and ensure that refugee and human rights standards are upheld, as well as provide information on the rights and procedures to seek asylum.

Meanwhile, non-governmental aid organisations working in northern Greece, at the refugee and migrant camp in Idomeni on the border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), said they were pulling their staff out due to rising tensions as protests against the closing of the borders continued for a second day.

The news of Tuesday's terror strikes in Belgium arrived late but spread gloom and despair among the refugees and migrants camped near the border with FYROM.

"Now they aren't going to want us in Europe at all," said Ahmed, a Syrian refugee from Aleppo, as he prepared to join a second day of protests on the railway tracks in the Greece-FYROM no-man's land to demand that the borders open. The refugees and migrants continued a sit-in protest throughout the day, never ceasing to shout slogans.

Earlier, two men had set fire to themselves and had to be taken to hospital, sparking an outbreak of anger that almost provoked protestors into moving against the fence before calmer heads prevailed. Later, a number of aid organisations said they were pulling staff out of the camp, where tensions were running high, but would monitor the situation and leave behind equipment so they could return if necessary.

The UNHCR spokesperson also said that the organization's staff will continue to be present at the shoreline and sea port to provide life-saving assistance - including transport to hospitals where needed. "We are counseling new arrivals on asylum in Greece, including on family reunification and on access to services. And we are identifying people with specific needs," she noted.

UNHCR is additionally concerned that the EU-Turkey deal is being implemented before the required safeguards are in place in Greece, the spokesperson noted. "At present, Greece does not have sufficient capacity on the islands for assessing asylum claims, nor the proper conditions to accommodate people decently and safely pending an examination of their cases," she said.

UNICEF also raised concerns on Tuesday that the deal would put many refugee minors at risk.

Fleming also clarified that the UNHCR is not a party to the EU-Turkey deal, nor will it be involved in returns or detention. "We will continue to assist the Greek authorities to develop an adequate reception capacity," she added.

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