Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-02-29

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] ND leader Mitsotakis: Govt incapable of handling migrant/refugee crisis

[02] Roughly 5,000 refugees hosted in Piraeus port building

[01] ND leader Mitsotakis: Govt incapable of handling migrant/refugee crisis

He called on the government to immediately mobilise the entire state mechanism, including the armed forces, in order to provide the essential basic facilities for the refugees and migrants arriving in the country, such as food, sanitation and medical care. It should also prepare, within a week's time, the necessary supervised open but also closed temporary housing facilities, properly distributed throughout the country, Mitsotakis added.

Thirdly, he urged better coordination between state services and local authorities in handling the crisis, action to ensure that the NATO force deployed in the Aegean did the job for which it was created in deterring people traffickers and an effective use of existing European funds, as well as asking for additional emergency funds to deal with the humanitarian crisis.

Lastly, ND's leader called on the government to immediately launch initiatives to improve the country's image abroad and support the country's tourism product.

Given the current conditions, convening a meeting of the political party leaders was imperative, Mitsotakis said, while the circumstances called for seriousness and responsibility, not "rushed and unilateral choices that will deepen the country's isolation and further damage its credibility."

"The memory is still fresh, in any case, of the tragic negotiations of last summer. We will not permit further, devastating mistakes," he said.

[02] Roughly 5,000 refugees hosted in Piraeus port building

Officials at the Piraeus Port Authority told ANA-MPA tht one gate has been closed by authorities for decontamination, so that it can be used to house people who will arrive on Tuesday. They also said the exact numbers of people housed in the premises change often, as some families choose to leave shortly after arriving to find the Athens train station and head north.

"The crucial part is to be able to keep those people here for a few hours, one or two days, because the port of Piraeus cannot be transformed into a temporary accommodation camp. It's a transit area and it can only operate as such," Shipping Minister Thodoris Drotsas said earlier in the day.

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