Diavata refugee camp

Diavata refugee camp is a military-run refugee camp located in Diavata, a community belonging to the municipality of Delta, Central Macedonia, Greece. The camp opened on 24 February 2016 to host Syrian, Afghan and Iraqi refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war, the long-ongoing Afghan conflict and the Iraq War.[1] The camp has capacity for 2500 refugees and as of 1 July 2016, hosts 1,744 refugees[2] in 171 tents and 134 RHUs (Refugee Housing Units).[3]

The former military camp of Anagnostopoulou was reconverted in the current Diavata refugee camp, producing protests by about 800 neighbours of Diavata, that opposed the creation of a refugee camp in their village.[4][5]

On 21 April 2016 a fire presumably started from a cooking fire. The strong wind and the proximity between shelters resulted in the burning down of 25 tents, with some refugees losing part of their belongings, including clothes, passports or money. Some people were treated due to smoke inhalation, but no injuries were reported.[6][7]

A refugee living in the camp stated to receive only a juice in the morning, noodles with a bread for lunch and nothing for dinner. He also reported that some tents host two or even three families, and that single men are accommodated in the building on the territory.[8]

Camp statistics

[edit]
Date Number of refugees Syrian (%) Afghan (%) Iraqi (%) Other (%) Adults (%) Children (%) Tents RHUs
14-04-2016 2,281 75 11 14 ? 60 40 145 160
12-05-2016 2,320 75 11 12 ? 55 45 171 134
14-06-2016 1,804 75 12 ? 13 52 48 171 134

The data is extracted from UNHCR statistics[9][1][3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Site profile:Diavata" (PDF). UNHCR. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Sites in Greece". UNHCR. 1 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Site profile:Diavata" (PDF). UNHCR. 14 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Strong presence of police at Diavata due to reactions for refugee reception centre". Themanews. 13 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Greece: Protesters decry refugee hotspot near Thessaloniki". news.com.au. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Live Ticker: 21.04.2016". Moving Europe. 21 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Fire at Diavata refugee centre extinguished, no injuries". Phantis. 21 April 2016. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Live Ticker: 05.04.2016". Moving Europe. 7 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Site profile:Diavata" (PDF). UNHCR. 14 April 2016.

40°42′08″N 22°51′50″E / 40.7022°N 22.8639°E / 40.7022; 22.8639