A desperate refugee has set himself on fire in protest at
European border closures. The man can be seen running, with his sweatshirt and
jeans ablaze, through the sprawling encampment at Idomeni near Greece's border
with Macedonia border. The flames were put out by other refugees and the young man
was taken to hospital.
Greek police said his injuries were not life-threatening.
Other refugees were also pictured apparently setting
themselves alight. Their desperate actions came as part of daily protests held
since last week's agreement between the leaders of the European Union and
Turkey to drastically limit the number of refugees and migrants reaching
Europe.
The border between Greece and Macedonia was closed earlier
this month, leaving thousands stranded as they tried to journey down the Balkan
migration route.
Around 12,000 asylum seekers continue to camp out in the mud
at Idomeni in the hope the frontier might reopen. The incident came as the UN’s
refugee agency said it was suspending some of its operations in protest at
asylum seekers being held in "mandatory detention".
