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               Tension Rising Among Migrants Camped at Greek Port

   by VOA News

   As the European Union struggles to adjust its plan for deporting
   illegal migrants in exchange for Syrian refugees, tensions have risen
   among migrants camping in the Greek port of Piraeus, where authorities
   are urging them to move to other accommodations.

   Some 4,700 migrants are estimated to be camped out at Greece's biggest
   port, where scuffles broke out on Wednesday.

   In an incident caught on camera, a group of young men held a sit-down
   protest in the middle of a road, leading to disrupted traffic and
   clashes with port officials. Police arrested at least one man who was
   alleged to be the ringleader.

   Another protester grabbed an infant and held it above his head during a
   scuffle with authorities. Within minutes, the baby was snatched out of
   the man's hands uninjured and returned to safety. Greek authorities say
   they are investigating.

   EU: 'No automatic return'
   The incident took place two days after the EU sent a group of 200
   illegal migrants to Turkey in exchange for the same amount of Syrian
   refugees who had been sheltering in Turkish refugee camps. The plan has
   sparked concern among human rights advocates about the fate of the
   migrants sent to Turkey and led to a revision in refugee plans for the
   European Union.

   ''

   European Union officials on Wednesday pledged there would be "no
   automatic return" for the migrants before they are given a chance to
   apply for asylum.

   "There will be individual assessments. There will be no automatic
   return. Everybody will be given the right to ask for asylum,"
   Jean-Pierre Schembri, spokesman for the European Asylum Support Office,
   told VOA from Lesbos.

   Schembri was among nearly 70 EASO staff arriving on the island
   Wednesday to begin handling asylum claim procedures following a wave of
   protests against the deportations, which are happening under the terms
   of a March agreement between the EU and Turkey to address Europe's
   migrant crisis.

    More transfers on Friday

   After Monday's initial transfer, a second group of 200 migrants was
   scheduled to leave Greece for Turkey on Friday.

   ''

   Schembri said EU asylum officers would take the individual applicants'
   vulnerabilities into consideration. This would be key to addressing
   activists' concerns about sending the deportees to Turkey, a country
   with a spotty human rights record. Those deemed ineligible for asylum
   will have five days to appeal the decision.

   The new procedures for handling asylum cases could further slow the
   process of clearing an estimated 3,000 migrants now housed at Moria,
   the largest, overcrowded migrant detention center on Lesbos.

   EU officials say about 1,000 migrants have expressed interest in
   applying for asylum. Starting Thursday, officials will only be able to
   process up to 50 cases a day. Greek officials say between 300 and 500
   migrants continue to arrive from Turkey daily.
   WATCH: Migrants Fear Deportations to Turkey

   ''

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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/tensions-rising-among-migrants-camped
   -at-greek-port/3274218.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/tensions-rising-among-migrants-camped-at-greek-port/3274218.html