Lesbos families urge their neighbours to take in refugees

Greek islanders criticise government response as camps are hit by coldest winter in years

A migrant boy stands outside a tent at a refugee camp in Nea Kavala, northern Greece. About 1,500 asylum-seekers transported from Greece's eastern Aegean island of Lesbos to the mainland. Around 1,000 of those transferred and housed in Nea Kavala, where they will be staying in tents until the end of the month, after which they will be transferred to a new camp under construction. AP

A migrant carries his belongings at a refugee camp in Nea Kavala, northern Greece. About 1,500 asylum-seekers transported from Greece's eastern Aegean island of Lesbos to the mainland. Around 1,000 of those transferred and housed in Nea Kavala, where they will be staying in tents until the end of the month, after which they will be transferred to a new camp under construction. AP

A migrant passes by telephone booths in Nea Kavala camp, near the city of Kilkis, northern Greece. Some 1000 refugees and migrants were transferred from the Greek island of Lesbos to the Nea Kavala camp under a decision taken by the Greek government at an emergency meeting on August 31. AFP

Hundreds of migrants arrive from the Greek island of Lesbos in the port of Thessaloniki. Another 700 migrants are due to be transferred later Monday, under a decision taken by the Greek government at an emergency meeting Saturday.The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said that the island of Lesbos was sheltering nearly 11,000 people at the end of August -- four times its capacity. In August alone, more than 3,000 people had arrived there, said the agency. AFP

Hundreds of migrants arrive from the Greek island of Lesbos in the port of Thessaloniki. Another 700 migrants are due to be transferred later Monday, under a decision taken by the Greek government at an emergency meeting Saturday.The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said that the island of Lesbos was sheltering nearly 11,000 people at the end of August -- four times its capacity. In August alone, more than 3,000 people had arrived there, said the agency. AFP

Children play after arriving at Nea Kavala refugee camp, near the city of Kilkis, northern Greece. Some 1000 refugees and migrants were transferred from the Greek island of Lesbos to the Nea Kavala camp under a decision taken by the Greek government at an emergency meeting on August 31. AFP

A boy stands at Nea Kavala camp, near the city of Kilkis, northern Greece. Some 1000 refugees and migrants were transferred from the Greek island of Lesbos to the Nea Kavala camp under a decision taken by the Greek government at an emergency meeting on August 31. AFP

Migrants are seen at Nea Kavala camp, near the city of Kilkis, northern Greece. Some 1000 refugees and migrants were transferred from the Greek island of Lesbos to the Nea Kavala camp under a decision taken by the Greek government at an emergency meeting on August 31. AFP

A baby sleeps at a refugee camp in Nea Kavala, northern Greece. About 1,500 asylum-seekers transported from Greece's eastern Aegean island of Lesbos to the mainland. Around 1,000 of those transferred and housed in Nea Kavala, where they will be staying in tents until the end of the month, after which they will be transferred to a new camp under construction. AP

A migrant arrives at a refugee camp in Nea Kavala, northern Greece. About 1,500 asylum-seekers transported from Greece's eastern Aegean island of Lesbos to the mainland. Around 1,000 of those transferred and housed in Nea Kavala, where they will be staying in tents until the end of the month, after which they will be transferred to a new camp under construction. AP

Children sleep inside a tent at a refugee camp in Nea Kavala, northern Greece. About 1,500 asylum-seekers transported from Greece's eastern Aegean island of Lesbos to the mainland. Around 1,000 of those transferred and housed in Nea Kavala, where they will be staying in tents until the end of the month, after which they will be transferred to a new camp under construction. AP

Dozens of families on the Greek island of Lesbos have urged their fellow residents to open their doors to thousands of refugees and migrants suffering in desperate, freezing conditions.

There are fears for those living in and outside camps on Lesbos – where around 7,500 asylum seekers are believed to be staying – amid one of the coldest winters in recent years. In the Kara Tepe camp, many are sleeping on the ground with around 40 per cent of its population reported to be children.

Some local people said they would be willing to provide refuge, while also criticising the Greek government’s migration policy and calling on local authorities to find a way forward.

In an open letter read out in Greece’s parliament by Giannis Varoufakis, a former finance minister and leader of opposition political party MERA25, the families called for greater support for migrants.

“There are citizens here who want to help their fellow human beings and open their own homes. Answer them if they can do it and if not, why,” the letter reads.

It also criticised the images published of the area by the government showing beautiful summer scenes that hide the reality of the situation for those in the camps of mud, dirty water and cold.

"We will not talk about the hundreds of municipal and state buildings that are closed and that could be used so that these people do not suffer. We will not talk about the hundreds of church premises that are locked and left rotting,” the letter reads.

“These places are not even open for Greeks who are also suffering … And we will not discuss the containers at Kara Tepe, which have been sealed instead of holding families in the warmth, and we won't mention the PIKPA camp which was recently closed down by force – a place that hosted the vulnerable."

Addressing parliament, Mr Varoufakis said there were around 50 families who had offered to house refugees for three to four weeks. He described the conditions of the camps as “tragic, inhuman and degrading”.

Lesbos' squalid Moria migrant camp was devastated by two fires in September.

It has since been replaced by a hastily-erected temporary camp in an area prone to flooding and strong winds.