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Chancellor Angela Merkel and Interior Minister Horst Seehofer have agreed that Germany will take in an additional 1.500 refugees, after more than 12.000 were left homeless by the fire at the Moria camp on Lesbos.
The German Press Agency reported on Tuesday morning that Merkel and Seehofer have agreed to accept a further 1.500 migrants from camps on the Greek islands. According to initial information, they are to be families with children who have already been recognised by Greek authorities as those in need of protection.
The Ministry of the Interior wants to send a delegation to Lesbos, to see who needs protection most urgently. The aim is to use “objective criteria” in the selection process, “so that there are no uncontrollable consequences,” the ministry said.
More than 12.000 migrants were left without shelter after a devastating fire at the Moria refugee camp on September 9. Greek authorities assume that the camp, which has been hopelessly overcrowded for years, was set on fire by migrants. The situation had previously escalated after several inhabitants tested positive for coronavirus.
Seehofer announced on Friday that Germany would accept 100 to 150 refugee children, out of a total of 400 unaccompanied minors who are to be brought to other European countries from Greece. However, a number of federal states, cities and municipalities in Germany - as well as the government’s coalition partners, the SPD - called upon leaders to do more.
In a debate this week about the admission of more refugees from the destroyed camp, Mathias Middelberg, domestic politician spokesperson for the Union parliamentary group, warned against a solo German effort: “Germany must not go it alone,” he said, adding that to do so would send the “wrong signal”. It remains to be seen whether other EU countries will follow Germany’s example.