Issue 13: Weeks 28^th December – 10^th January, 2015

Another biweekly update. The usual weekly bulletin will resume next week, aiming to collate and simplify information from a variety of sources about the situation at Europe’s border hotspots.

General News

Foreigners are being attacked in Cologne, Germany, in “revenge” for the New Year’s Eve sexual assault and mugging attacks in which 18 refugees have been named as suspects.

Doctors Without Borders (Medicines Sans Frontieres) have ceased rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean, on the route from Libya to Italy, mostly due to a reduction in crossings due to the season. Their ship has directly rescued 20,129 people since May 2015.

“Humanitarian Corridor”

Greece → Macedonia → Serbia → Croatia → Slovenia → Austria → Germany →

1^st Jan – Travel from Slovenia to Austria at Spielfeld reportedly getting more difficult. Not more than 2,000 people per day now crossing. Reports from Austria-Germany border of refugees “pushed forward” to Germany without opportunity to apply for asylum in Austria. Testimonies needed.

1^st Jan – Hungary is detaining vulnerable asylum seekers and migrants under its new border regime for weeks at a time in poor conditions says Human Rights Watch, recommending “EU member states should refrain from returning any asylum seekers to Hungary until it reforms its laws and practices.” 1, 724 people have been prosecuted for irregular entry into Hungary; 703 convictions.

5^th Jan – 100-200 refugees arrive daily in Dimitrovgrad, Serbia from Bulgaria. Many stories of illegal Push-Backs to Turkey by Bulgarian border guards, ill-treatment and abuse. Report by Amnesty International. New NGOs and volunteers.

4^th Jan – New ID controls between Denmark and Sweden. Swedish asylum system said to be on the brink of collapse. New controls between Germany – Denmark.

6^th Jan – Reports of systematic violence, inhumane treatment, human right violations and unlawful process by Croatian police officers at Slavonski Brod Transit Camp for Migrants and Refugees.

Turkey / Greece

Surroundings of Moria refugee camp on Greek island Lesbos have turned into unofficial camp of those no longer registered as asylum seekers in Europe—people not from Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan

2^nd Jan – A two-year-old boy named Khalid becomes the first known refugee to drown in 2016 after the dinghy he is travelling in crashes into rocks off Greek island Agathonisi.

5^th Jan – At least 34 people, including three children, drown off Turkey’s Aegean coast after their boat capsized in rough seas.

8^th Jan – Solidarity demonstration organized by migrant housing squat in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Calais / UK

Has Dunkirk just become Europe’s worst refugee camp? Situation dire, action needed.

Far-right activity on the increase in Calais, including random attacks of violence against migrants. Video documentation of police collaboration with the far-right.

Every day an average of 15 Jungle residents are taken to the Emergency section of the local hospital in Calais, facing mistreatment and routine discrimination from medical staff.

24^th Dec – Abdul Haroun, the Sudanese man who was the first known person to walk the length of the Channel Tunnel to the UK, has been granted asylum. He’s been in prison since arriving in UK, but court hearing now adjourned while prosecution consider the effect of new information on case.

28^th Dec – 15 year old Masud from Afghanistan dies while attempting to reach England in a truck. This was the 24^th death of 2015 at the border in Calais.

29^th Dec – 27 fascists with sticks and metal bars patrol up and down near the Jungle.

31^st Dec – New Year’s Eve noise demonstration outside Coquelles detention centre, Calais. Jungle attacked with tear gas by CRS at midnight, from motorway bridge nearby.

1^st Jan – 2nd female volunteer from Jungle threatened by knife-wielding fascists. Police do nothing.

4/5^th Jan – Kurdish community in the Jungle confront fascists in Calais.

5/6^th Jan – Second night of clashes between Jungle residents and police. Tear gas, water canons and rubber bullets. Jungle residents attack police with stones in response.

6/7^th Jan – Third night of clashes between Jungle residents and police. Huge amount of tear gas.

Nearly 1/3 of the camp in Calais is about to be bulldozed and evicted. Some of the residents are planning to peacefully resist. Calais Migrant Solidarity report about increasing repression in Calais.

Morocco / Spanish Border

29^th Dec – The Spanish Government tells the Tribunal of Strasburg that Subsaharans can claim asylum at the border without climbing the fence, and so it’s ok to push back those who do. UNHCR says around 60% of those who climb the fence are potential refugees, but nobody of Sub-Saharan origin has yet managed to claim asylum at the border.

3^rd Jan – Mass attempt to enter Ceuta (Spanish enclave) by sea and fences. Caminando Fronteras report about 250 people tried to cross; 200 stopped by Moroccan police; 17 returned by Guardia Civil (Spain) with help from Moroccan police; 3 deaths; several fractures; deportations to the south. 17 people (16 men and 1 woman) successfully reached Spain by boat.