
Rhodes Residents Reach ‘Breaking Point’ Over Migrant Crisis, Demand Urgent Action
Residents of the Greek island of Rhodes are demanding action as an influx of illegal immigrants strains resources and disrupts the community. With over 700 undocumented migrants settling in makeshift camps on sidewalks and parks in the historic Old Town, locals feel abandoned by government inaction and warn that patience has worn thin.
Manolis Androulakis, head of the South Dodecanese Police Officers Union, expressed alarm over the crisis. “The situation is at a breaking point,” he said, noting that limited resources have stretched police forces thin. Officers reportedly wait up to 20 days to escort migrants to other areas due to insufficient staffing, adding pressure to already overburdened law enforcement.
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
Rhodes Mayor Alexandros Koliadis emphasized the urgent need for more personnel during a recent meeting of the South Aegean Regional Council. He pointed to a severe shortage of staff in both the police and port authorities, describing it as a significant barrier to managing the growing migrant population. The challenges are compounded as daily arrivals continue, with authorities reporting 37 new migrants and five human traffickers from Turkey intercepted on Tuesday alone.
The situation has created severe issues for both locals and migrants. Makeshift camps lack basic sanitation, leaving many migrants without adequate shelter or hygiene facilities, forced to sleep in public areas. For Rhodes’ residents, who once enjoyed a tranquil lifestyle, the sight of migrants living in such conditions has only heightened frustration.
‘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
The government’s efforts to alleviate the crisis have been sluggish, adding to local discontent. Although plans were announced to transfer 120 migrants from Rhodes to Piraeus on the mainland, logistical setbacks have delayed these relocations. Androulakis criticized the delay, stating, “We cannot keep waiting.”
Calls for swift action are mounting, as local leaders urge the government to expedite transfers and provide more resources. For the people of Rhodes, relief cannot come soon enough as they strive to restore order in their community while managing an escalating migrant crisis.