Greece - The situation at Greece’s border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is extremely tense with protests and sporadic rioting by stranded migrants and refugees.

Nobody has crossed the border since Wednesday, when some 4,058 refugees and migrants from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan were allowed to cross, according to IOM staff.

But another 3,500 migrants of other nationalities are now stranded on the Greek side of the border, together with some 2,500 Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis, who have been caught up in the border closure, but who are expected to be admitted to the FYROM when the border re-opens.

Another 3,200 migrants and refugees are expected to arrive at the border shortly, according to IOM monitors.

On Wednesday, when the riots broke out, some 200 people returned from the border to Athens. A train has now been provided to transport more migrants and refugees from the border back to Athens tonight.

IOM and NGOs have been advised to stay out of the Idomeni border transit camp for security reasons, but are ready to resume activities there as soon as it is deemed safe. Facilities in the camp have been damaged due to the rioting. 

Since November 27th, 2015 the Greek authorities have been transporting 50-100 stranded migrants daily from the border to a reception facility at the Olympic hockey stadium in the Elliniko area of Athens.

The open facility, which can accommodate up to 350 people, provides accommodation, food, legal information and psychological support. On Wednesday it was hosting some 200 migrants, mostly from Morocco, Iran, Afghanistan and Algeria.

Meanwhile about 1,984 migrants were rescued yesterday (03/11) in the Channel of Sicily. Eleven rescue operations were carried out – eight rubber dinghies and three fishing boats were rescued at sea by EUNAVFOR Med ships, the Italian Navy, the MSF Bourbon Argos, and others. The migrants are now being brought to land.

“It is quite unusual to see so many arrivals in the month of December,” said IOM Italy spokesperson Flavio Di Giacomo. “But in November we witnessed a decrease in arrivals – 2,170 – compared to same period last year, when there were over 9,000.”

For further information please contact IOM Greece. Daniel Esdras, Tel: +30 210 9912174, Email: iomathens@iom.int  or Kelly Namia, Tel: +302109919040, +302109912174, Email: knamia@iom.int or Flavio Di Giacomo at IOM Italy, Tel: +39 347 089 8996, Email: fdigiacomo@iom.int