Greek government will close Amygdaleza in 100 days

Alternate Civil Protection Minister Yiannis Panousis said on Monday that the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government is closing the controversial migrant detention center at Amygdaleza in about 100 days. The statement was made following a meeting between mr. Panousis and Alternate Migrant Policy Minister Tasia Christodoulopoulou.

The government is planning to speed up the opening of three new hospitality centers in the Attica region so that migrants can be hosted in humane living conditions soon, especially after the suicide of a 28-year-old Pakistani inmate of Amygdaleza who prefered death to the conditions at the camp. Panousis said that the new centers will operate as “probation” homes. A committee will examine the files of those held at Amygdaleza to determine whether they are unaccompanied minors, sick people, asylum seekers or other categories in order to determine where to place them.

Panousis said that Amygdaleza would not be turned into an open hospitality center because it also houses the Police Academy. Clearer plans for the future of Amygdaleza and Greek migration policy is to be announced on Tuesday by the Ministry of Interior.