Is Greece’s refugee problem becoming an asymmetric threat

This move, as well as a caravan of migrants and refugees that have been trying to go from the area of Diavata in northern Greece to the border with North Macedonia, are evolving into an asymmetric threat for Greek authorities now faced with disruption of transportation.

The question is how Greek authorities will deal with this rising insubordination of people who have entered Greece, not directly from a war-torn country, but from Turkey, and who now demand to go anywhere in Europe that offers refugees allowances.

If these people are allowed to reach the border they will be faced with a much harsher reception from the other side of the fence, and Greece will face diplomatic tensions with neighbors as well as EU partners.

The present government has been criticized for mishandling the refugee crisis, mismanaging funds, not overseeing dubious NGOs, and lining the pockets of its cronies through the funding given for refugees.

Hotspots remain a cesspool of crime, where hapless migrant families are preyed upon by young men organized in gangs, some claiming to be Jihadist in nature. Rapes, beatings, robberies are the order of the day at the hotspots on the islands of the Aegean.

Meanwhile, Turkey has been turning the flow of refugees and migrants, on and off, causing pressure on the Greek side and destabilizing local economies.

The situation at the Athens train station

Approximately 100-150 migrants and refugees have gathered at the station and have requested to be transferred to Diavata Thessaloniki in order to leave Greece.

The refugees and migrants are sitting on the railway tracks and are preventing trains from crossing the point until their request has been met.

Some of the protesters have reportedly started walking along the railway lines to Thessaloniki.

Police forces are on the scene at Diavata.

Meanwhile, tensions are high at Diavata in Thessaloniki, with refugees trying to reach the makeshift camp that has been set up since Thursday outside the structure of the former Anagnostopoulou refugee camp.

Despite the police ring that has been set up, refugees are flocking to Diavata after a Facebook post raised hopes the northern border of Greece would open and they would be allowed to cross to northern Europe.

Greek Minister on Migration Policy Dimitris Vitsas said most of the migrants and refugees had fallen victims of misinformation, mainly traffickers, “who said for some inexplicable reason that they will open the border,” the Minister said by speaking on “104.9 FM”, inviting them to return to their camps.

The Minister clarified that “the borders are and will remain closed and it goes without saying that we will not allow irregular movements”.

He called on all those who have gathered outside the center at Diavata, including many families with children, “not to endanger themselves, their family and the other people around them.”

Meanwhile in efforts to break the police cordon those assembled hurled children at police with no obvious concern for their lives and health.