ERC to build refugee camp for thousands of Syrians in Greece

Emirates Red Cresent, in coordination with the Hellenic Red Cross, will build a Syrian refugee camp in Greece.

The camp, located 360 kilometres from Athens in Larissa city, will accommodate 2,000 refugees in the first phase, and will include hundreds of shelters, healthcare services, and entertainment facilities for families of refugees, reported state news agency Wam.

The agreement signed by ERC’s secretary general, Dr Mohammed Al Falahi and the president of HRC in Athens on Wednesday followed a series of meetings with Greek authorities and field visits by the ERC to study the situation on the ground.

Dr Al Falahi said the initiative “supports Greece’s efforts to create better living conditions for tens of thousands of refugees trapped in Greece and are suffering from a severe humanitarian crisis,” adding that the refugee crisis poses a real challenge to the international community and countries leading to Europe, mainly Greece, where thousands of refugees arrive following a risky sea journey.

Ahmed Al Jarwan, speaker for the Arab Parliament, hailed the initiative and extended his appreciation on behalf of the Arab people to President Sheikh Khalifa, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, and Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and ERC Chairman, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, for the “humanitarian and brotherly gesture”.

He also called upon the rest of the Arab countries and the world to take similar steps to aid the Syrian refugees.