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ATHENS, Aug. 2-- Hundreds of refugees living in reception camps, hotels and rented apartments across Greece staged a symbolic peaceful demonstration here on Wednesday against the slow pace of relocations to Germany for family reunifications. Refugees marched from Syntagma square to the German embassy and the EU's offices in the Greek capital, requesting a swift change. Several were holding banners and placards reading "Our children wait for us," "No separation EU" and "The right to reunite is not a crime." Most of the protesters were Syrians stranded in Greece after the closure of the Balkan route to central Europe in March 2016. More than 62,000 refugees and migrants have been trapped in Greece. Despite progress made regarding living conditions in camps, the assessment of asylum bids and relocation process to other European countries still take several months. By July 24, 2017, according to the European Commission, a total of 16,803 persons had been relocated from Greece and 7,873 from other EU countries under the 2017 deal between member states who committed to accept at least 40,000 people from Greece and Italy within two years. The suffering is worse for parents and children who were separated during the perilous journey from war-torn Syria to safety in Europe. Approximately 2,500 applications have been lodged, accepted and still pending this year for family reunifications from Greece to Germany, according to Greek Asylum Agency data. | 
