Residents of the Greek island of Rhodes are expressing frustration as the ongoing migrant crisis strains the island’s limited resources. With hundreds of undocumented migrants now living in makeshift camps across the city’s Old Town, local leaders say government inaction has left the community in a state of desperation.
Law enforcement on Rhodes has reached its limit, according to Manolis Androulakis, president of the South Dodecanese Police Officers Union. “The situation is at a breaking point,” he said, pointing to the lack of personnel needed to handle the influx of migrants. Police officers reportedly spend up to 20 days arranging escorts for migrants to be transferred off the island, but capacity limitations persist.
More than 135k illegal migrants have crossed the English Channel since 2018.
How did some of those people get to Britain? Perhaps their journey started here, on the Greek island of Rhodes.
I travelled to a migrant encampment on the island to find out more. pic.twitter.com/zqrd4CV8Zj
— JACK ANDERTON (@JACKGUYANDERTON) October 28, 2024
During a recent South Aegean Regional Council meeting, Mayor Alexandros Koliadis highlighted a severe shortage of police and port authority staff, which has left the island ill-equipped to manage the crisis. Despite daily migrant arrivals, authorities have struggled to alleviate overcrowded conditions, leaving both residents and migrants in challenging situations.
The migrants, unable to access proper facilities, are camped out in public spaces with minimal hygiene options, and the lack of immediate action has left locals feeling abandoned. “It is not possible for us to shoulder the entire burden of immigration while others look on indifferently,” Androulakis added, echoing a sentiment shared by many on the island.
‘We are at breaking point!’ — Rhodes suffers under weight of migrant crisis as locals demand action https://t.co/wzguC7u6WH via @RMXnews
— B Gallagher (@Gally66kg) October 25, 2024
Calls for migrant transfers to the mainland have been met with delays, with a planned transfer of 120 migrants falling through due to logistical issues. Residents fear that without swift intervention, the island’s infrastructure may be unable to handle the continued strain.
As frustration mounts, the community is urging the government to provide the necessary resources to manage the crisis and relieve the burden on Rhodes, which many feel has been neglected for too long.
