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A metal wall, barbed wire, drones and cameras may be the first sight to welcome some Afghan refugees fleeing to Europe to the land border between Greece and Turkey.
Last week, as the Taliban took over Kabul into chaos, Greece announced that it had completed the expansion of the 40-kilometer (25-mile) border wall.
Greek Immigration Minister Notis Mitarachi insisted that Athens would not allow large numbers of Afghans to enter and warned against a repeat of the refugee crisis of 2015.
Civil Defense Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis claimed that the Greek borders will remain “inviolable” and added, “We cannot passively wait for possible impact.”
According to Greek media reports, the technology implemented along the border includes 11 new cameras and radars that can see within 15 kilometers (9 miles) of Turkey.
At the same time, it is reported that the chief of police is stepping up the supply of tear gas and flash bombs and strengthening physical border patrols.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (Kyriakos Mitsotakis) has begun to take diplomatic action, discussing EU border issues with EU officials, and with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Recep Tayyip Erdogan). ) Discussed the refugee support needed by countries close to Afghanistan.
Natalie Gruber, co-founder of Josor, a Turkish non-governmental organization, said that the new wall is a “symbol of the authority and deterrence of border politics”.
However, she added, “This is the technology currently in use [Greece-Turkey] Border, this is really troublesome.
“For example, we collected testimonies from people who used night vision goggles to hide and were found.”
Gruber said that when people are caught and often repelled, violent factors are often involved.
“90% of the testimonies we collected involved violence,” she said.
Josoor noticed an increase in the level of violence at the Greek-Turkish border.
“In the past four weeks, we have had to send more people to the hospital,” she said, adding that the alleged abuse appeared to be due to the Greek authorities “expecting Afghans to cross the border.”
Despite reports to the contrary, the Greek authorities strongly deny the allegations of violence and boycott.
But Greece is not the only country that has built a separation wall on the border.
Its neighbor Turkey is often a political opponent of Greece, and it is strengthening the border wall with Iran to prevent the increase in the number of Afghans.
Concrete slabs 3 meters (10 feet) high are being installed to prevent potential crossings, and local media reported that 155 kilometers (93 miles) of the planned 241 kilometers (150 miles) of walls have been built.
“The increasing use of surveillance technology at the border shows that Europe is willing to abandon the humanity that is at the center of the disaster in Afghanistan. By strengthening the border, the EU has clearly stated that it will abandon the internationally protected norms that protect the persecuted, and instead build more. Walls and rely on increased surveillance to consolidate European fortresses,” said Petra Molnar, deputy director of European fortresses. Think Tank of the Refugee Law Laboratory in Canada.
“The people I spoke to talked about the increasing use of surveillance technology at the borders to show that Europe is moving away from the human story at the core of immigration, and instead relying on more technology and walls to keep them out,” she Say. Said.
“It’s easy to forget that at the core of this humanitarian disaster, there are real people with real stories-losing nuance in the increasing push for surveillance technology on the European border.”
“I left school and came to Europe for safety”
17-year-old Abdul* left his family in Afghanistan and sought refuge in Europe.
He is currently in France, but has crossed the land borders between Greece and Europe.
“You know, if you touch the fence between Serbia and Hungary, they will tell you in Persian, Bengali and English,’You are crossing the border illegally.'”
Abdul said that when people hear this invisible sound, they feel scared.
“Everyone is scared and praying,” he said, because they knew that the police had received the alert and would show up soon.
“The police came too fast. Sometimes, when they catch you, they will put tear gas in your eyes, and you can’t see anything for two or three minutes.”
Abdul also encountered a drone on the Romanian border.
“They have a drone camera, so you run away and hide in a tree, but they can easily climb onto the drone camera and the red light flashes.
He said that the police often find him after the drone takes off.
“This is not a good thing.
“The situation in Afghanistan is not good. People want their families to live a safe life. I left school and came to Europe for safety.”
*Name has been changed to protect identity.
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