Greek authorities begin evacuation of Idomeni refugee camp

Greek authorities began an operation at dawn on the 24 May 2016 to gradually evacuate the country’s largest informal refugee camp of Idomeni on the border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), blocking access to the area and sending in more than 400 riot police.

The government’s spokesman said on the 23 May 2016 that police would not use force, and that the operation was expected to last about a week to 10 days. The residents would be moved to newly completed official camps.

At least 8,400 people - many of them women and children - were at the camp. Most of them had been on their way to northern Europe when they became stranded after Macedonia closed its border with Greece in April 2016.

On the 27 May 2016 UNHCR stated it was seriously concerned about sub-standard conditions at several sites in northern Greece where refugees and migrants were evacuated from the makeshift site at Idomeni, and urged the Greek authorities, with the financial support provided by the European Union, to find better alternatives quickly.

• Primary Source

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ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

BBC News, 24.05.16: Greece begins moving migrants from Idomeni camp http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36358891

Deutsche Welle, 24.05.16: Greek authorities begin clearing Idomeni refugee camp http://dw.com/p/1ItKl

Politico, 23.05.16: Greece to move migrants from Idomeni camp http://www.politico.eu/article/refugee-asylum-macedonia-greece-to-move-migrants-from-idomeni-camp/

Euronews, 24.05.16: Greece begins evacuation of Idomeni refugee camp http://www.euronews.com/2016/05/24/greece-begins-evacuation-of-idomeni-refugee-camp/

Balkan Insight, 24.05.16: Greece Starts Clearing Idomeni Refugee Camp http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/greece-evacuates-idomeni-refugee-camp-05-24-2016

TIME, 24.05.16: Greece Begins to Clear Migrants From Idomeni Camp http://time.com/4346012/greek-migrants-macedonia-idomeni-camp/

The New York Times, 24.05.16: Greece Begins Moving Refugees Out of Idomeni Camp http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/25/world/europe/greece-idomeni-refugee-camp.html

The Guardian, 24.05.16: Idomeni: Greek riot police move in to clear refugee camp http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/24/idomeni-greek-riot-police-move-in-before-dawn-to-clear-out-refugee-camp

The Independent, 24.05.16: Idomeni: Riot police deployed for evacuation of Greek refugee camp http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/idomeni-lates-riot-police-deployed-for-evacuation-of-greek-refugee-camp-a7044366.html

EurActiv, 25.05.16: Greek police steps up evacuation of Idomeni border camp http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/greek-police-steps-up-evacuation-of-idomeni-border-camp/

Euro|Topics: Debates, May 2016: What will remain once Idomeni is cleared? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/159669/what-will-remain-once-idomeni-is-cleared

Deutsche Welle, 25.05.16: Thousands of migrants cleared from Idomeni camp http://dw.com/p/1ItuP

France24, 26.05.16: Greek police finish clearing Idomeni refugee camp http://www.france24.com/en/20160526-greek-police-finish-clearing-idomeni-refugee-camp

Kathimerini, 27.05.16: UN urges Greece to improve poor living conditions for refugees http://www.ekathimerini.com/209060/article/ekathimerini/news/un-urges-greece-to-improve-poor-living-conditions-for-refugees

UNHCR: News and Stories: Briefing Notes, 27.05.16: Greece: UNHCR concerned at conditions in new refugee sites and urges that alternatives be found http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2016/5/57480cb89/greece-unhcr-concerned-conditions-new-refugee-sites-urges-alternatives.html

Deutsche Welle, 26.05.16: Infamous Greek refugee camp at Idomeni cleared out http://dw.com/p/1IuwG

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