Thread by @lydiaemman

Alarmed (but not surprised) to find out that journalist access to Greek refugee camps has been suspended until further notice. The 🇬🇷 ministries of migration & foreign affairs informed me of this change in response to a request I submitted to visit the camp on Samos island

The application process for journo/reporting visits to Greek refugee camps was never straight-forward or transparent & conditions were not ideal for reporting (ex. I’ve had police/security follow me around for entirety of recent visit). BUT at least access was a possibility….

…and thru that process I was able to visit all the new, EU-funded refugee camps in 🇬🇷. As reported w @LudekStavinoha @Balkanizator these “model” camps have struggled to provide very basics even when numbers of residents were WELL below stated capacity

aljazeera.com/features/2023/…

Given recent developments on the islands it is arguably even more important for journalists to be able to access Greek refugee camps to document conditions for asylum-seekers & how they square with EU asylum standards

x.com/lesboslegal/st…