A dozen refugees have been wounded and hundreds left without shelter following a clash between Pakistani and Afghan migrants at a detention center in Greece, a news report said on Friday.
The EuroNews website reported the incident on the Greek island of Lesbos was triggered by intimidating behaviour of Afghans, who allegedly attempted to control the center. But the Afghans accused the Pakistanis of theft and sexual harassment.
A former refugee camp, the center currently houses migrants who have been refused residence in Greece. The inmates are awaiting passage back to Turkey as part of a deal between the European Union and Ankara.
About 30 tents were burnt as a consequence of the incident, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people from the camp. Clubs and stones were used by the migrants. Two injured Pakistanis and an Afghan were hospitalized.
Boris Cheshirkov, spokesperson for the UN refugee agency’s mission to the island, confirmed the clash, saying the situation had returned to normal.
