Death of woman in Moria hotspot fire "a truly tragic event", Commission spokesperson says

The death of a woman and the injury of her child during a fire at the migrant camp in Moria, Lesvos was a "truly tragic event" that the European Commission "can only deeply deplore," said Commission Deputy Chief Spokesperson Mina Andreeva in response to questions on Monday.

"The increased arrivals in Greece over the past weeks have put immense strain on an already fraught system and are creating unsustainable conditions," she added.

The death of a woman and the injury of her child during a fire at the migrant camp in Moria, Lesvos was a "truly tragic event" that the European Commission "can only deeply deplore," said Commission Deputy Chief Spokesperson Mina Andreeva in response to questions on Monday.

"The increased arrivals in Greece over the past weeks have put immense strain on an already fraught system and are creating unsustainable conditions," she added.

"The Commission remains and is committed to assisting the Greek authorities with the utmost urgency in implementing emergency measures to elevate the situation," Andreeva noted. The Commission also welcomes emergency measures already announced by Greek authorities to address issues of reception capacity in view of the increased arrivals, she added.

"These measures include additional transfers to the mainland supported by the [UN High Commission for Refugees] and financed by the EU, increased reception capacity on the mainland, as well as increased returns from the island, including voluntary returns," Andreeva clarified.

The spokesperson said that European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos will meet with President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopios Pavlopoulos on Monday to discuss the issue. He is also due to visit Greece and Turkey on Thursday and Friday, accompanied by the interior ministers of Germany, Horst Seehofer, and France, Christophe Castaner, to discuss the situation in Greece and ways to cooperate with Turkey on migration management.

"We stand ready to step up our support and will continue to do everything within our remit to support the Greek authorities, who are responsible for the management of the situation, in order to improve it," Andreeva concluded.

with the utmost urgency in implementing emergency measures to elevate the situation," Andreeva noted. The Commission also welcomes emergency measures already announced by Greek authorities to address issues of reception capacity in view of the increased arrivals, she added.

"These measures include additional transfers to the mainland supported by the [UN High Commission for Refugees] and financed by the EU, increased reception capacity on the mainland, as well as increased returns from the island, including voluntary returns," Andreeva clarified.

The spokesperson said that European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos will meet with President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopios Pavlopoulos on Monday to discuss the issue. He is also due to visit Greece and Turkey on Thursday and Friday, accompanied by the interior ministers of Germany, Horst Seehofer, and France, Christophe Castaner, to discuss the situation in Greece and ways to cooperate with Turkey on migration management.

"We stand ready to step up our support and will continue to do everything within our remit to support the Greek authorities, who are responsible for the management of the situation, in order to improve it," Andreeva concluded.