Group of 47 unaccompanied child migrants evacuated from refugee camps in Greece arrive in Germany
- The 47 minors, among them four girls, come from Afghanistan, Syria and Eritrea
- They landed in Hanover on a flight from Athens today and now face quarantine
- They were previously housed in refugee camps in Lesbos, Samos and Chios
- German minister Seehofer urged other countries to take in refugee children
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
A group of 47 unaccompanied children evacuated from refugee camps in Greece have landed in Germany.
The Interior Ministry said the minors landed in Hanover on a flight from Athens on Saturday. They were all tested for the coronavirus before departure and will remain in two-week quarantine before moving on to other German states.
Germany’s interior minister, Horst Seehofer, said the evacuation was ‘the result of months of preparation and intense talks with our European partners’ and expressed hope that other countries would also begin taking in refugee children soon.
Unaccompanied migrant children from overcrowded camps on the Greek islands, who will be transferred to Germany, wear protective face masks as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus disease as they board their flight at the Athens International Airport on April 18
The Interior Ministry said the minors landed in Hanover on a flight from Athens on Saturday. They were all tested for the coronavirus before departure and will remain in two-week quarantine before moving on to other German states
Germany’s interior minister, Horst Seehofer, said the evacuation was ‘the result of months of preparation and intense talks with our European partners’ and expressed hope that other countries would also begin taking in refugee children soon
The children come from Afghanistan, Syria and Eritrea. Four are girls and there are several siblings among the group.
Some of them have families waiting for them in Germany.
They were previously housed in refugee camps on the Greek islands of Lesbos, Samos and Chios that have been criticized as unsuitable for children by human rights activists.
A refugee child looks out of a bus window as unaccompanied young refugees, who were living at migrant camps of the islands of northern Aegean Sea, leave Hannover Airport on Sunday
The aeroplane with unaccompanied young refugees, who were living at migrant camps of the islands of northern Aegean Sea, arrives at Hannover Airport
Young refugees sit in a bus after their arrival at the airport in Hannover, Germany
‘The Greek government has been trying to sensitize other EU countries to (the plight) of the young children, who have fled war and persecution, to find new families and start a new life. I’m glad this program is finally being implemented,’ Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotsakis told reporters at the Athens airport, where he met the departing children, alongside the German ambassador to Greece, Ernst Reichel.
Mitsotakis added that he hoped over 1,500 minors would be relocated over the next months.
Germany pledged last month to take in at least 350 children living in Greek refugee camps as part of a joint European effort, but the plan has stalled in some countries due to the pandemic.
Unaccompanied young refugees, who were living at migrant camps of the islands of northern Aegean Sea, exit the plane at Hannover Airport, Germany on Sunday, above and below
They were previously housed in refugee camps on the Greek islands of Lesbos, Samos and Chios that have been criticized as unsuitable for children by human rights activists
A coach picks up the unaccompanied young refugees, who were living at migrant camps of the islands of northern Aegean Sea, upon ther arrival at Hannover Airport
‘Greece will continue to treat all migrants that arrive in our country with great sensitivity. But, at the same time, it has the obligation to guard and protect its borders. We have proven, as a country, that we can do both,’ Mitsotakis said.
This was the second flight taking unaccompanied minor refugees to another European country. On Wednesday, 12 children traveled to Luxembourg.
According to the United Nations Secretary-General’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, there were over 5,200 unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors in Greece in early April ‘in urgent need of durable solutions, including expedited registration, family reunification and relocation.’