AYS Daily Digest 21/02/2019 French/Italian border: a border that wounds and kills
Serbia: Police harassment and violence in Sid /// Bosnia-Herzegovina: Transferrals of first asylum seekers out of Una Sana centres /// Austria: Protests at the Italian embassy in Vienna //// Morocco: Women targeted by auxiliary forces /// Spain: New agreement allow Spanish coast guard to return rescued migrants to Morocco /// Much more from Greece, the Mediterranean, France…
Feature — French/Italian border: a border that wounds and kill
Anafé has published a report detailing the consequences of increasingly securitised and restrictive border policies on those making the journey across the French/Italian border during 2017–2018.
From Menton to Ventimiglia, in the Roya Valley, from Briançon to the Col de Fréjus and Modane, via the Col de Montgenèvre and the Col de l’Échelle, the conclusions are the same: discriminatory controls; hasty procedures; human rights violations; endangered people; irregularities in entry denials; hindrances to the access to asylum; failure to look after unaccompanied minors; irregular push backs; irregular detention; police chases; violence; injuries; and deaths.
The report highlights three main areas of concern: the militarization of the border, human rights violations which include push backs, police violence and detention, and criminalisation of solidarity movements in the area.
Anafé highlight that despite both countries belonging to the Schengen zone, checkpoints have become commonplace along the 515km border separating Italy and France in an effort to strengthen internal borders, restrict freedom of movement, and deny the rights of asylum seekers to seek safe refuge.
They report at least 30 deaths along the border since 2016 and of the use of military techniques to target those attempting to cross, through “man hunt” style operations.
The France — Italy border has become a border that wounds, psychologically and physically, or worse, that kills.
The report also exposes the discriminatory use of check points as a system of increased control and surveillance of the border area, including how people are stopped and arrested depending on the colour of their skin or the clothes they wear. When denial documents are signed, Anafé disclose that police officers intentionally include basic, non-identifiable information about themselves as the arresting officer. Furthermore, those arrested are often not informed of their rights in a language they can understand, including vital information regarding their right to a lawyer or to appeal any decisions made, their right to an interpreter and a doctor if needed, and their right to ask for asylum.
Many people are also detained after being pushed back across the border. People are held for many hours, in conditions described as inhumane, with little or no access to water and no distinction or separation between men/women/minors.
Whilst these practises go unnoticed and unpunished, those offering solidarity and support to the victims of these crimes are finding their actions met with increasing hostility; activists face heightened charges.
Anafé demand real and swift changes to these practises. A full list of their recommendations can be seen in the report, which can be read in full here (full report is in French only).
MOROCCO
Sub-Saharan women targeted by Moroccan authorities
Association Marocaine des Droits Humain in Nador report that Sub-Saharan women are targeted by the Moroccan authorities. They were the first victims of the last attacks to the makeshift camps in the area. “Unable to run, they are arrested by the auxiliary forces even if they are pregnant or together with their children.”
SEA
116 people returned to Libya
With no surprise, Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini praised the Libyan coastguard for returning these people to Libyan detention centres. IOM - UN Migration are always ready to support illegal push-backs and “voluntary” returns, while they constantly refuse to take any action to improve conditions for people on the move in both Europe and North Africa.
French government to provide Libyan coast guard with new boats
Media outlets also report that last weekend French and Libyan governments signed an agreement: France will provide Libyan coast guard with logistical means to improve their capacity to intercept boats and bring rescued people back to Libya.
Sea-Eye rescue vessel “Alan Kurdi” arrives in the Libyan SAR zone
The newly renamed vessel “Alan Kurdi” arrived in the Libyan SAR zone. It is now the only ship of a relief organisation in the Central Mediterranean, because of the blockade and the criminalisation operated by both the Spanish and Italian governments.
As Sea-Eye report, in this same week, the Tunisian coast guard refuses to share and disclose important information on a distress call received on Wednesday.
Already threatened by Italian minister Salvini, the “Alan Kurdi” has no government with which to cooperate for rescue operations. Sea-Eye has begun a partnership with Spanish aid organisation ProeM Aid.
Alarm Phone 6-weeks report from the Mediterranean
Alarm Phone published a 6-weeks report of the situation in the Med between December 24, 2018 and February 3, 2019.
Read it HERE (in Spanish).
GREECE
Arrivals
Numbers from Aegean Boat Report:
Two boats arrived on Samos, one in the morning carrying 51 people, and a second one around 12.00 with 40 people on board. No further information is available.
GREEK ISLANDS
Government statististics:
According to these Government stats, there are 15,038 people present in the islands, however this only counts registered people, so the number is generally higher. Also, it clearly states that no one is living in makeshift camps of the islands, which means that the summer tents and makeshift shacks at the edges of Vathy, Vial and Moria which sprawl into the woodland are all official accommodation.
We are glad we’ve cleared that up.
Protest in Leros
No Borders reports that there was a protest by Palestinian refugees at Leros Police Station yesterday. Protesters asked for the release of asylum seekers in police custody. The police responded with violence. No more is information available.
Refugee Biryani and Bananas fundraiser
More info on how to help here.
ATHENS
Updates on accommodation and cash cards policy changes
Mobile Info Team have translated the news that people who have received refugee status or subsidiary protection will gradually have to leave their accommodation — if they live in a camp or a UNHCR accommodation — and will also lose their cash assistance, as we recently reported.
People that got their asylum status before August 2017 will have to leave their UNHCR accommodation or the camp they stay in by the 31st of March 2019. If people refuse to leave the camp or accommodation by that day, their cash assistance will also stop on the 31st of March. If you leave your accommodation like requested, your cash assistance will still continue until end of June and then stop. Also, if you live in a private accommodation, your cash assistance will end by June 2019. People that got their asylum status later than August 2017 will also have to leave their camp or UNHCR accommodation, and will not have their cash card any more at some point.
We will publish future time frames as soon as they are announced. For further information, please read the article of راهنمای پناهندگان Refugee.Info دليل اللاجئ: https://blog.refugee.info/exit-accommodation-cash.
Other groups are also concerned, read more here.
This process could easily lead to high levels of homelessness in a city where many people are already sleeping on the street or in parks. It is not clear what would happen if people refused to leave their accommodation if they have nowhere else to go. Making one group homeless to house another is not a solution. It is astounding that anyone would think it is, especially any person specifically paid for the job of housing people on the move in Greece.
Protest for Ebuka!
Today there was a protest and press conference for the death of Ebuka, a young husband and father of two, who died while in police custody at the Omonia police station.
Needs List
Cars of Hope are supporting people living in two self-organised spaces in Athens and have published a needs list. In the first building, they need to repair the boiler; provide food twice daily for 50–60 people; buy gas weekly; and repair water damage. In the second building, the showers need to be repaired; 50 people need food, sanitary products, and medicine; the kitchen needs a fridge, gas cooker, and washing machine; and they also need gas bottles and a new lock for the door. Find out more and how to help here.
Jobs Lists
Looking for a job in Greece? Generation 2.0 publishes regular jobs lists which often include positions for people who speak a variety of languages, including Arabic and Farsi.
Protest in Thessaloniki
Demo earlier today in Thessaloniki (Neapoli) after last night’s attack with a Molotov bomb against an Iraqi family house in the area.
Map of Language Lessons in Greece
Refugee.Info has mapped out organizations which offer language courses in Athens, northern Greece, and the 🇬🇷 islands.
More info here — https://bit.ly/2txzGTe.
SPAIN
New agreement allows Spanish coast guard to return boats to Morocco
Spain and Morocco have come to an unprecedented agreement which will allow the return of ships rescued by Salvamento Marítimo, who continue to aid the Moroccan Coast Guard, to Moroccan ports, when the place of interception falls close to Moroccan shores.
Previously all of those rescued in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea were taken to Spanish ports regardless of where the rescue mission had occurred. These steps are part of increased efforts at curbing the number of arrivals to Spain ahead of elections in the country, with a heavy influence from the far right party Vox which has a strong presence in the Southern region of Andalusia. Through this agreement is being put into effect immediately, ultimately the enforcement of this measure will depend upon the upcoming general election in Spain on the 2nd April.
Furthermore, NGO rescue ships continue to be denied departure permits, with claims they will only try to bring people back to Spain that other EU countries refuse to take.
These measures are part of a strategy which seeks to put pressure on the Moroccan Coast Guard to respond when called upon to intercept those stuck out at sea, following reports that they often ignore calls and have little interest in rescue missions.
The Moroccan Coast Guard received €140 million from the European Union in 2018, yet another example of EU efforts to outsource external border controls and limit safe pathways into Europe. This money has had little effect though, with only 17% of rescue missions being carried out by the Moroccon Coast Guard.
To combat this, the Spanish government will send even more money to Morocco, despite concerns from Spanish sea rescue workers and migrant solidarity NGOs, who believe these measures are arbitrary and will result only in more deaths at sea and more unjust returns to Morocco. The agreement has been met with huge criticism, with many, including Doctors of the World, stating that Morocco should not be viewed as a safe third country due to ongoing human rights violations.
Previously, almost 9 out of 10 migrants reaching Spain via boats were rescued by Spanish ships, highlighting the huge impact this agreement will have upon the lives of people trying to reach Europe, and has thus been labelled an “anti human rights plan.”
In response, Ana Botella, Secretary of State for Security, has denied that any such agreement exists, stating instead that there will be continued efforts to support a functioning Moroccan Coast Guard. She has said that until this exists rescue missions shall continue as they do, stating, somewhat unbelievably, that it is the rights of the migrants that should always come first.
BALKANS
Weather forecast for Friday 22/2
MONTENEGRO — In the south and centre, changeably cloudy with sunny intervals, and chances of precipitation during the night locally. In the north, predominantly cloudy and snow and sleet from time to time. In the lower regions, rain during the day. Wind mostly blowing from the north, weak to moderate, during the day in the north, while in the rest of the country, amplified to strong with stormy gusts. Lowest temperatures -5 to 6, and highest daily from 2 to 16 degrees.
SERBIA — Predominantly cloudy and colder with rain. In the mountains, snow and an increase of the snow covers. At some places during the evening and night, rain transiting into snow, while in north and west precipitation will cease and gradually clear up. Wind moderate to strong, from the north, in the evening and during the night locally with stormy gusts. Lowest temperatures from 0 to 6 degrees and highest daily from 6 to 12 degrees.
BiH — Predominantly cloudy with rain. In the mountains snow, and in the south, no precipitation. In Bosnia and the lower regions, chance of snow during the evening hours. In Herzegovina, decrease in cloudiness during the afternoon and in Bosnia during the night. Wind moderate with strong gusts, blowing from the north and northwest. Amplified Bura during the night.
CROATIA — Inland predominately to considerably cloudy with rain from time to time, and with a tangible decrease in temperatures locally with a possibility of precipitation transiting into snow. Alongside the coast, partially sunny and mostly dry. Wind moderate, towards the end of the locally strong, blowing from the north and northeast. Alongside the coast, moderate Bura which will increase in strength till the end of the day locally with stormy and white hurricane-like gusts.
BOSNIA
Tranferrals start as closure of centres in Una Sana Canton is ordered
A local news report states that closures of the migrant centres in the Una-Sana Canton region of Bosnia have been ordered following a failure to improve conditions in the centres after continued demands to do so.
The first people to be moved out of the centres will be a group of 250 residents. They will be transferred to the reception centre in Ušivak, in the municipality of Hadžići on Friday 22nd, February by IOM.
The rest of the thousands of refugees living in other camps across Bosnia, in Bira and the Dormitory Center in Bihac, Miral in Velika Kladusa and the Hotel Sedra in Cazin, continue to wait for competent management of the centres, with conditions in these centres being denounced as insufferable.
The lives of those in the camp seem to be of little value to those running the centres. As AYS reported recently, Hamid, a 34 year old Algerian migrant, was killed outside Miral camp in a tragic accident, whilst IOM workers refused to help or call an ambulance, leaving him to die at by the gates.
There is speculation as to what will happen as the weather improves and numbers of arrivals to both Bosnia and Greece look set to rise. Indeed, the numbers of arrivals already in 2019 are higher than the same period in 2018.
SERBIA
Police violence on people on the move and volunteers after eviction in Sid
No Name Kitchen has reported on a violent eviction of a squat housing refugees in Sid, with 8 police vans and around 30 policee officers at the scene. The building, which housed many refugees in the area, was raided yesterday morning, resulting in the detainment of around 60 refugees in an area outside the police station, all of whom were later forcibly taken to official camps, with approximately 20 people managing to escape by hiding themselves whilst the eviction was taking place.
Following the removal of the squat’s residents, police reportedly began removing the belonging of those who had been staying there, including tents, blankets, sleeping bags and other personal items. Those on the ground with No Name Kitchen have said that many - including some taken to the camps -returned to the squat later that day, despite being warned of continued danger of eviction and police violence if they stayed.
Volunteers working with No Name Kitchen who rushed to the scene of the eviction were also arrested and detained at the police station for attempting to record the violence of the eviction and refusing to leave while police officers confiscated the essentials items left behind in the squat. The phones of the volunteers arrested were confiscated and those arrested experienced humiliation and violence by the Serbian police. The volunteers were subjected to extreme sexual harassment both verbally and physically, with female volunteers forced to strip, and later groped, whilst they were hand cuffed.
We were frisked. Two of us were thrown to the floor. We were seized with violence. They twisted our arms, and they also inflicted sexual touching on us and handcuffed us. We were also forced to undress for, “security and control reasons,” an excuse that the police officers used only against female volunteers…. “You have all the nationalities to choose from. Look how beautiful they are! You can choose the one you like best for tonight.”
Despite threats of prison sentences if orders were not obeyed, it seems all volunteers were later released. The group has expressed both their anger and their determination to carry on with their activities in the area.
We are not going to allow police pressure to stop us from working here, in the same way that they are not going to stop migratory flows.
We are very clear about our objective here.The fight goes on.
AUSTRIA
Protest against rescue boat blockade
Activists have protested today before the Italian Consulate in Vienna against the seizure of rescue ships, the criminalisation of rescue, and the fatal consequences of the European border and border control. At the moment, the Sea Watch 3 is blocked in Catania, and both the Open Arms and the Aita Mari/Maydayterraneo are forcibly docked in Spanish ports.
Administrative court intervene in favour of unaccompanied minors in Tours
InfoMIE report that the administrative court of Orleans (Loiret) has overturned two decisions of Tours local council. The court reminded the institution of their responsibilities regarding unaccompanied minors.
In one case the court, “imposed ‘without delay’ an emergency shelter for a Guinean 15-year-old boy left on the street while waiting for an interpreter and an assessment by the Social Assistance for Children (Ase).”
In the second case, the court, “suspended the denial of care reported to a Bangladeshi 16-year-old boy, and demand a review of the situation by the Department to be conducted by Thursday, February 21.”
Job opportunities for refugees in Paris
Tilt & Co is organising an information and pre-Recruitment event for refugees interested in digital and computer trades, in partnership with the company rte.
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