Greece imposes dangerous lockdown of Moria refugee camp after first COVID-19 case

Moria is not a safe place for anyone, but there are more than 200 identified individuals whose age and underlying health conditions put them at even greater risk if they contract COVID-19. For months MSF and other actors have called for the complete evacuation of the residents of Moria camp, with a specific urgency to move these particularly vulnerable people to safe accommodation on Lesbos, the Greek mainland, or other states in the European Union. In April, the Greek government promised to evacuate vulnerable people from the islands, but five months later, they are still trapped—now, by a police cordon.

“Right now in Moria there are elderly people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, as well as children who are afraid and are being exposed to more trauma as a result of this policy,” said Willemen. "The government should be protecting these people, but instead, by keeping them hemmed in with COVID in the camp, they are exposing them.”

With the first positive COVID-19 case confirmed in Moria, it is essential that Greek authorities move people from the camp to safe accommodation now. Not doing so is a clear neglect of their duty of care. 

As a medical organization with almost 50 years of experience, MSF knows that a comprehensive public health approach is needed now, rather than quarantine—especially as COVID-19 is already spreading outside of the camp. Greek Authorities must not resort to damaging measures such as policing and detention. Instead, they should:  

• Ensure the community receives proper information about the virus and how they can protect themselves;
• collaborate with the community;
• ensure basic hygiene measures are accessible and possible for everyone;
• evacuate and protect people who are at heightened medical risk;
• undertake mass testing;
• isolate and treat positive COVID-19 cases;
• contact trace;
• and enforce quarantine only in places where minimum hygiene standards are in place and where medical follow-up can be ensured.

If the Greek government is going to protect people in Moria and slow or prevent the spread of COVID-19, it must urgently implement these public health measures, or entirely evacuate the 13,000 people stranded in Moria to safer places. Relying solely on testing and mass quarantine will inevitably cause additional suffering and bring no public health benefits to anyone.