Newscasts - Sudanese migrant in Greece says he only wants 'peace and safety'
11/07/2025 23:43
Click the following link to watch video: https://share.newscasts.refinitiv.com/link?entryId=1_5pp449c6&referenceId=tag:reuters.com,2025:newsml_RW925911072025RP1_K15&pageId=Newscasts Source: 'Reuters - General news videos' Description: Gamaa Birir Mohamed Musa, a pharmacist from Sudan, lies on the floor of the exhibition hall in Agyia, Crete, with other migrants after fleeing Sudan over what he says was persecution of those working in medical trades. His arrival comes as Greek lawmakers voted on Friday (July 11) to temporarily stop processing asylum requests from migrants arriving from North Africa by sea amid a surge. Kristy Kilburn reports. Short Link: https://refini.tv/44WOihb Video Transcript: Sudanese migrant and pharmacist Gamaa Birir Mohamed Musa lies on the floor of an exhibition hall in Agyia, Crete, in Greece. He’s joined in the temporary shelter by others who have crossed from Libya in an effort to reach Europe. Libya is the road to reach Greece, the road, because there are no options, there are no any way to go. Thousands of irregular migrants have been rescued by the Greek coastguard off Crete in recent days, according to the Athens government. Hundreds of them are sheltered here in Agyia amid sweltering summer temperatures. Musa says he paid $5,000 for him and his wife, also a pharmacist, to reach Greece. He fled Sudan over what he said was persecution of those working in medical trades. Right now, I am searching about the peace and safety. Amid the surge in arrivals, Greek lawmakers voted on Friday to temporarily stop processing asylum requests from migrants arriving from North Africa by sea. Rights groups and opposition parties have called the ban illegal and accuse Greece of forcefully turning back asylum seekers on its sea and land borders. The government denies wrongdoing. The law halts asylum processing for at least three months and allows authorities to quickly repatriate migrants without any prior identification process. At the temporary shelter in Agyia, Musa says he has no intention of returning to Sudan and wants to reach the Netherlands to continue his education and acquire a PHD. He says he is determined to stay in Europe.