From the 9 in the morning, today Friday 19 February, are expected to depart approximately 800 refugees and immigrants, hosted here and 2,5 years in the nine mountain hotels of the Regional Unit of Grevena, both to other Structures throughout the country and abroad, following a decision of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum.
Half of them have secured asylum and the coveted passport and so they will leave for the destination of their choice, while the other half will be transported by buses to respective Host Structures of the country.
This issue had created controversy, both with residents of some local communities requesting that refugees and migrants be relocated to other areas, as well as with local actors who demanded proportionality in relation to their number, because, as they reported, the Regional Unit of Grevena had "lifted" the greatest burden of hosting refugees and immigrants in Western Macedonia, in relation to its population, but also the other Regional Units.
At the same time, there were professionals from the mountainous area of Grevena, who spoke about the deterioration of tourism in recent years at the National Ski Center of Vasilitsa, as the largest hotels in the area hosted refugees.
It is typical that last year, both in the Structure of the nine hotels, as well as in smaller hotels and hostels, were hosted approximately 1.600 refugees and immigrants. In the first phase, those who lived outside Domi left, while today the last ones are expected to leave.
This decision is opposed by the owners of the nine hotels in Domi, who persistently asked local authorities to support their request for a six-month extension of their hospitality. In fact, this issue was to be discussed at the Municipal Council of Grevena, but this discussion, which was to take place on Wednesday, was postponed after the attack on the Deputy Mayor of Culture in his office, Education and Sports, Dimitrios Bolis, by owner of one of the nine hotels, who demanded to vote in favor of their request.
In fact, this issue was not discussed at the extraordinary Municipal Council of Grevena on Thursday because there was no quorum.
ERT KOZANIS - Editing: Makis Nasiadis
