Palestinian Refugee Tents Flooded by Heavy Rain on Greek Island

Palestinian Refugee Tents Flooded by Heavy Rain on Greek Island

Plastic draped over a tent in an attempt to waterproof it from the rain. (Eric Reidy/TNH)

Palestinian refugees taking shelter on the Greek island of Kos said their tents have been uprooted and others have fallen apart as torrential downpours have swamped refugee camps set up on the island.

Pictures and videos circulated on social media show dozens of refugees lying in the streets, without roofs over their heads, while their tents have been dismantled by the rain showers.

The Action Group for Palestinians of Syria said in a Monday report that dozens of displaced Palestinian families, including some 200 refugees from Syria, have expressed concerns over their fate as a freezing winter season has overwhelmed the southeastern European country.

The refugees have denounced the absence of vital services, including health care, housing, relief assistance, and power and water, and called on the international human rights organizations to take urgent action in response to their appeals.

Over recent years, Greek refugee camps have reportedly been running at three times their capacity. Overpopulated refugee camps cause a shortage of resources, not least healthcare. Often mental health issues are overlooked, despite many refugees having experienced severe trauma.

A few months earlier, UNICEF warned that the number of unaccompanied migrant minors staying in overcrowded reception centers on the Greek islands exceeds 1,100, the highest level since the peak of the refugee crisis in early 2016, calling on European countries to do more to protect vulnerable children.

Palestinian refugees continue to risk their lives onboard the “death boats” to Greece, rummaging around for a momentary respite from the daily scenes of bloodshed and destruction.

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