ATHENS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- A Syrian refugee set himself on fire on the Greek island of Chios on Thursday, protesting living conditions at hotspots and delays in the assessment of asylum bids, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.
The man has suffered extensive burns and will be air transferred from the local hospital to Athens.
A policeman who tried to extinguish the fire was also hospitalized, with less serious burns, according to hospital sources.
Earlier this week, a 25-year-old Syrian committed suicide by hanging himself at Piraeus port. Inside his pocket police found his asylum application, according to AMNA.
A year after the closure of the borders along the Balkan route to central Europe and the launch of the EU-Turkey deal to stem the refugee-migrant flow, about 63,000 people have been stranded in Greece, according to official estimates.
Despite progress made, Greek government officials and international NGOs acknowledge that the living conditions, in particular, in overcrowded reception centers on the Aegean Sea islands remain difficult.
Delays in the assessment of asylum bids for several months add to the frustration of the refugees. According to NGOs, many residents of such camps suffer from depression and other psychological disorders.
