Compensation over Moria refugee camp deaths upheld
It took six years after the harsh winter that had enveloped the summer-style tents with snow in the Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesvos for compensation to be awarded to the relatives of a Syrian and an Egyptian man who died from carbon monoxide inhalation as they tried to keep warm with makeshift stoves.
20-year-old Egyptian Ahmed Elgamal and 46-year-old Syrian Mustafa Mustafa were staying in the same tent and died four days apart, on January 24 and 28 in 2017.
The Athens Administrative Court of Appeal recently acknowledged the responsibilities and omissions for the inhospitable living conditions that prevailed and ordered the Greek state to pay compensation to the families of the victims.
Another man from Pakistan died a few days later and another was then taken to an intensive care unit for the same reason: acute carbon monoxide inhalation poisoning.
The families of the first two victims appealed against the Greek state, represented by lawyer Silina Pavlaki, of the law firm Pavlakis-Moschos and Associates.
In June 2021, the Athens Administrative Court of First Instance partially accepted their claims and awarded compensation. The state appealed.
Last month, the Athens Administrative Court of Appeal again vindicated the victims’ relatives.
On the basis of the appeal decisions, total compensation of 320,000 euros must be paid to Syrian’s large family and 85,000 euros to the Egyptian’s relatives.
