European solidarity is at work, through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, to help Greece prevent the risk of an outbreak of the coronavirus in the overcrowded migrant and refugee camps on the Greek islands, the European Commission announced on Monday 20 April.
In response to the request for assistance submitted by the Greek authorities to the Commission, Austria immediately offered 181 accommodation and sanitation containers which include showers and toilets.
The air transport costs for these containers will be 75% co-financed by the Commission.
The European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, welcomed the Austrian offer, stating on his Twitter account that "the EU stands ready to channel further channel further offers of assistance".
By activating the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the Greek authorities have requested accommodation but also hygiene and medical materials such as oxygen generators, X-ray machines and wheelchairs.
The Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) will coordinate the assistance provided, ensuring that it is appropriate to the needs formulated by the country requesting assistance.
Despite a crippled health system, Greece took early and drastic measures to combat the outbreak of the new coronavirus and has a much lower number of COVID-19 contaminations and deaths (105 per 11 million inhabitants) than most other EU Member States. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)