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Migrants Brace Themselves for The Harsh Greek Winter

Published December 4th, 2019 - 07:21 GMT

In November alone, almost 3,900 asylum seekers landed on Lesbos, arriving from the Turkish coast nearby.

Among them, at least 1,200 unaccompanied minors live in "extremely worrying and unsuitable" conditions for children, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The UN agency, medical charity MSF and other NGOs have called for an emergency evacuation of children and other vulnerable migrants living in "inhuman" and "miserable" conditions, according to AFP.

"In the beginning of the winter it's really bad. It's raining everywhere. The tents can't hold it. Nothing can hold the rain. The situation is really, really bad. It's cold," says Sleem, a 22-year-old refugee from Iraq.

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A young girl stands under the rain outside the refugee camp of Moria, on the island of Lesbos on November 26, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded Moria camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. The government announced on November 20it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

A young girl stands under the rain outside the refugee camp of Moria, on the island of Lesbos on November 26, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded Moria camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. The government announced on November 20it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

A man unloads firewoods from a baby troller at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the island of Lesbos on November 30, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp counting over 18.000 people with winter fast approaching. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

A man unloads firewoods from a baby troller at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the island of Lesbos on November 30, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp counting over 18.000 people with winter fast approaching. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

Refugees and migrants load their belongings onto a truck as they depart from the Greek island camp of Moria on Lesbos to Athens on November 29, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp counting over 18,000 people with winter fast approaching. Last week the government announced it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

Refugees and migrants load their belongings onto a truck as they depart from the Greek island camp of Moria on Lesbos to Athens on November 29, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp counting over 18,000 people with winter fast approaching. Last week the government announced it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

An eldery woman with her grandchild sit inside their tent at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the island of Lesbos on November 30, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

An eldery woman with her grandchild sit inside their tent at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the island of Lesbos on November 30, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

Children play with a ball at a makeshift camp outside the overcrowded Moria camp near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 28, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

Children play with a ball at a makeshift camp outside the overcrowded Moria camp near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 28, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

A child rests on bags as migrants and refugees wait to depart from the Greek island camp of Moria on Lesbos to Athens on November 29, 2019.ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

A child rests on bags as migrants and refugees wait to depart from the Greek island camp of Moria on Lesbos to Athens on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

A woman gives evening English lessons to migrants and refugees with a flashlight as they don't have electricity at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the Greek island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

A woman gives evening English lessons to migrants and refugees with a flashlight as they don't have electricity at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the Greek island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

A man peers outside his tent at the makeshift camp next to the overcrowded refugee camp of Moria near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

A man peers outside his tent at the makeshift camp next to the overcrowded refugee camp of Moria near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

A young boy puts a jacket on his brother at the makeshift camp next to the refugee camp of Moria near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

A young boy puts a jacket on his brother at the makeshift camp next to the refugee camp of Moria near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

Children warm themselves around a camp fire under the rain in the refugee camp of Moria, on the island of Lesbos on November 26, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded Moria camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. The government announced on November 20it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

Children warm themselves around a camp fire under the rain in the refugee camp of Moria, on the island of Lesbos on November 26, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded Moria camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. The government announced on November 20it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

A man holds a boy during clashes with police outside the refugee camp of Moria on the Greek island of Lesbos, on September 29, 2019. At least one migrant died on September 29, 2019, after a fire broke out in Moria, the over-crowded refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece's Health Ministry said. Police were firing tear gas to control crowds who started rioting after the fire ignited inside the camp, according to an AFP correspondent. ANGELOS TZORTZINIS / AFP

A man holds a boy during clashes with police outside the refugee camp of Moria on the Greek island of Lesbos, on September 29, 2019. At least one migrant died on September 29, 2019, after a fire broke out in Moria, the over-crowded refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece's Health Ministry said. Police were firing tear gas to control crowds who started rioting after the fire ignited inside the camp, according to an AFP correspondent. ANGELOS TZORTZINIS / AFP

A young girl stands under the rain outside the refugee camp of Moria, on the island of Lesbos on November 26, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded Moria camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. The government announced on November 20it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A man unloads firewoods from a baby troller at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the island of Lesbos on November 30, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp counting over 18.000 people with winter fast approaching. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
Refugees and migrants load their belongings onto a truck as they depart from the Greek island camp of Moria on Lesbos to Athens on November 29, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp counting over 18,000 people with winter fast approaching. Last week the government announced it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
An eldery woman with her grandchild sit inside their tent at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the island of Lesbos on November 30, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
Children play with a ball at a makeshift camp outside the overcrowded Moria camp near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 28, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A child rests on bags as migrants and refugees wait to depart from the Greek island camp of Moria on Lesbos to Athens on November 29, 2019.ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A woman gives evening English lessons to migrants and refugees with a flashlight as they don't have electricity at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the Greek island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A man peers outside his tent at the makeshift camp next to the overcrowded refugee camp of Moria near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A young boy puts a jacket on his brother at the makeshift camp next to the refugee camp of Moria near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
Children warm themselves around a camp fire under the rain in the refugee camp of Moria, on the island of Lesbos on November 26, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded Moria camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. The government announced on November 20it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A man holds a boy during clashes with police outside the refugee camp of Moria on the Greek island of Lesbos, on September 29, 2019. At least one migrant died on September 29, 2019, after a fire broke out in Moria, the over-crowded refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece's Health Ministry said. Police were firing tear gas to control crowds who started rioting after the fire ignited inside the camp, according to an AFP correspondent. ANGELOS TZORTZINIS / AFP
A young girl stands under the rain outside the refugee camp of Moria, on the island of Lesbos on November 26, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded Moria camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. The government announced on November 20it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A young girl stands under the rain outside the refugee camp of Moria, on the island of Lesbos on November 26, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded Moria camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. The government announced on November 20it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A man unloads firewoods from a baby troller at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the island of Lesbos on November 30, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp counting over 18.000 people with winter fast approaching. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A man unloads firewoods from a baby troller at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the island of Lesbos on November 30, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp counting over 18.000 people with winter fast approaching. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
Refugees and migrants load their belongings onto a truck as they depart from the Greek island camp of Moria on Lesbos to Athens on November 29, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp counting over 18,000 people with winter fast approaching. Last week the government announced it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
Refugees and migrants load their belongings onto a truck as they depart from the Greek island camp of Moria on Lesbos to Athens on November 29, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp counting over 18,000 people with winter fast approaching. Last week the government announced it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
An eldery woman with her grandchild sit inside their tent at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the island of Lesbos on November 30, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
An eldery woman with her grandchild sit inside their tent at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the island of Lesbos on November 30, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
Children play with a ball at a makeshift camp outside the overcrowded Moria camp near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 28, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
Children play with a ball at a makeshift camp outside the overcrowded Moria camp near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 28, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A child rests on bags as migrants and refugees wait to depart from the Greek island camp of Moria on Lesbos to Athens on November 29, 2019.ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A child rests on bags as migrants and refugees wait to depart from the Greek island camp of Moria on Lesbos to Athens on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A woman gives evening English lessons to migrants and refugees with a flashlight as they don't have electricity at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the Greek island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A woman gives evening English lessons to migrants and refugees with a flashlight as they don't have electricity at a makeshift camp next to the camp of Moria in the Greek island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A man peers outside his tent at the makeshift camp next to the overcrowded refugee camp of Moria near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A man peers outside his tent at the makeshift camp next to the overcrowded refugee camp of Moria near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A young boy puts a jacket on his brother at the makeshift camp next to the refugee camp of Moria near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A young boy puts a jacket on his brother at the makeshift camp next to the refugee camp of Moria near the capital Mytilene in the island of Lesbos on November 29, 2019. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
Children warm themselves around a camp fire under the rain in the refugee camp of Moria, on the island of Lesbos on November 26, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded Moria camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. The government announced on November 20it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
Children warm themselves around a camp fire under the rain in the refugee camp of Moria, on the island of Lesbos on November 26, 2019. Conditions remain difficult in the overcrowded Moria camp in Greece with winter fast approaching. The government announced on November 20it will shut down the three largest of its overcrowded migrant camps on islands facing Turkey, and replace them with new closed facilities with much larger capacity. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
A man holds a boy during clashes with police outside the refugee camp of Moria on the Greek island of Lesbos, on September 29, 2019. At least one migrant died on September 29, 2019, after a fire broke out in Moria, the over-crowded refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece's Health Ministry said. Police were firing tear gas to control crowds who started rioting after the fire ignited inside the camp, according to an AFP correspondent. ANGELOS TZORTZINIS / AFP
A man holds a boy during clashes with police outside the refugee camp of Moria on the Greek island of Lesbos, on September 29, 2019. At least one migrant died on September 29, 2019, after a fire broke out in Moria, the over-crowded refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece's Health Ministry said. Police were firing tear gas to control crowds who started rioting after the fire ignited inside the camp, according to an AFP correspondent. ANGELOS TZORTZINIS / AFP

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