Once home to more than 14,000 refugees and migrants, the makeshift camp at Greece’s border village of Idomeni has now been evacuated and its former occupants transferred to other, supposedly better organized camps.
Bulldozers have removed the detritus and the railway line linking Greece to neighboring Macedonia and other countries to the north – which had been blocked by protesting refugees at great financial cost to the railway — is back in operation.
The Greek government has pointed out that the evacuation was carried out with no use of force but reports of “sub-standard conditions” in the new camps abound. The United Nations’ refugee agency, UNHCR, says some evacuees were taken to “derelict warehouses and factories” with “insufficient” supplies of food, water, toilets, showers and electricity. It has called on the Greek government to find “better alternatives quickly.”
Initially a transit point on the busiest migrant route into central and northern Europe, the Idomeni camp had slowly turned into a place of shattered hopes after Macedonia and the Balkan countries to its north started blocking migrants from coming in. Refugees’ attempts to break through the border fence into Macedonia resulted in brief but violent clashes with Macedonian police.
Two picture combo, top shows a migrant taking a selfie photo at the makeshift camp in Idomeni, Greece, Friday, May 20, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was evacuated. Once home to more than 14,000 refugees and migrants, the makeshift camp at Greece’s border village of Idomeni has now been evacuated and its former occupants transferred to other, supposedly better organized camps. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Two picture combo, top shows a group of migrants moving though the makeshift camp in Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 23, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was evacuated. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Two picture combo, top shows tents erected on the railroad at the makeshift camp in Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 23, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was evacuated. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Two picture combo, top shows police during clashes with migrants at the makeshift camp in Idomeni, Greece, Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was evacuated. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Two picture combo, top shows children playing at the makeshift camp with field of tents behind in Idomeni, Greece, Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was evacuated. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Two picture combo, top shows a volunteer entertaining migrant children at the railway station turned makeshift camp in Idomeni, Greece, Friday, May 20, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was evacuated. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Two picture combo, top shows migrants waiting in line for food distribution at the makeshift camp in Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 23, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was evacuated. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Two picture combo, top shows a migrant carrying a blanket at the makeshift tent encampment in Idomeni, Greece, Thursday, May 26, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was evacuated. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Two picture combo, top shows migrants walking through mud at the makeshift camp in Idomeni, Greece, Sunday, May 22, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was evacuated. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Two picture combo, top shows migrants waiting for aid distribution at the makeshift camp in Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 23, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was evacuated. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Two picture combo, top shows migrants at flooded part of the makeshift camp in Idomeni, Greece, Saturday, May 21, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was evacuated. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Two picture combo, top shows a boy walking through a flooded area of the makeshift tent camp in Idomeni, Greece, Saturday, May 21, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was evacuated. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Two picture combo, top shows clearing tents and other debris used by migrants from the former makeshift camp in Idomeni, Greece, Thursday, May 26, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was cleared. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Two picture combo, top shows a view at the makeshift camp by the rail tracks in Idomeni, Greece, Thursday, May 19, 2016. Bottom photo shows the same location on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after the camp was evacuated. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
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AP Images is the world’s largest collection of historical andcontemporary photos. AP Images provides instant access to AP's iconic photos and adds new content every minute of every day from every corner of the world, making it an essential source of photos and graphics for professional imagebuyers and commercial customers. Whether your needs are for editorial, commercial, or personal use, AP Images has the content and the expert sales team to fulfill your image requirements. Visit apimages.com to learn more.
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One thought on “Idomeni Migrant Camp, Before and After Bulldozers”