OPERATIONAL CONTEXT
The situation in Greece considerably changed in March 2016, with the closure of the border between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM) on 8 March and the entry into effect of the EU-Turkey statement on 20 March. Arrivals to Greece have drastically decreased due to several reasons, including an understanding among the refugee and migrant populations that the Balkan route is closed and will not re-open, the expected consequences of the EU-Turkey statement, and increased patrolling in Western Turkey. The average arrivals on the Aegean islands have dropped from 2,000 per day in the months of January and February 2016 to less than 100 in April and May 2016. As a consequence, UNHCR reviewed its response to focus on a static population living in an urban context and being hosted in emergency sites or existing buildings in need of rehabilitation to become operational and to be used as accommodation. Refugees and migrants are divided into two categories that are subject to different administrative treatments, depending on their date of arrival in the country, before or after 20 March.
The vast majority of those who arrived on the islands in Greece prior to 20 March have been transferred to the mainland. As of 31 May 2016, according to the figures provided by the Greek Government, there are 44,165 refugees and migrants hosted in 43 sites established by the authorities throughout mainland Greece and in informal sites, and over 5,500 in UNHCR managed accommodation scheme for relocation candidates and other asylum seekers. Additional 1,100 reception places for asylum seekers are funded by the State and run by NGOs. Sites are managed either temporarily by the Army, local authorities or the Alternate Minister of Interior in charge of Migration Policy, with populations ranging between 200 and 4,000 persons. In addition, one of the sites, Lagkadikia, is co-managed by the Ministry of Migration Policy and UNHCR. The quality and scope of services offered at each site varies. The main challenges include the current insufficient capacity of the Asylum Service to register and process asylum claims and the limited reception capacity and provision of services. UNHCR conducts regular assessments of all the sites and produces a daily updated online map and detailed site profiles.
On 24 and 25 May 2016, the Greek authorities evacuated Eidomeni informal site. UNHCR and other humanitarian actors supported the operation, which was conducted smoothly, however expressed concern about the sub-standard conditions at the newly established sites and reiterated their support to the Greek authorities in improving the sites and responding to the urgent needs of the population. Dismissed industrial facilities (warehouses) were identified and used as temporary accommodation structures. Several need urgent improvement and UNHCR and NGOs have been approached for support. The intervention plans are being finalized, but in some of the facilities there is limited possibility for substantial improvement of the infrastructure and should be only be used for a very limited time.
Those who arrived after 20 March on the Aegean islands have been kept in the hotspot facilities or Reception and Identification Centres (RIC) under the First Reception Service/Reception and Identification Service (RIS), until they are registered and processed, under restriction of liberty, as per the Greek law. A total of 8,456 refugees and migrants are present on the islands as of 31 May. Following the conversion of the hotspots into closed facilities, reception conditions for new arrivals have deteriorated and some facilities became overcrowded, such as Moria hotspot in Lesvos, Vial hotspot in Chios and Vathy hotspot in Samos. Anxiety among refugees and migrants has been mounting due to uncertainties about their future treatment, creating security risks for the refugee community and the actors operating at the hotspots. The limited processing capacity of the Greek Asylum Service resulted in people staying on the islands for a considerable period of time, while their asylum claims are being examined. While UNHCR and most humanitarian partners suspended some of their activities in the closed facilities, UNHCR has maintained its presence to provide information on the rights and procedures to seek asylum, to identify and refer people with specific needs and to carry out protection monitoring. The gradual regularization of the administrative treatment of refugees and migrants arriving on the islands as per the Greek law requirements, the exception of the vulnerable population from detention and the implementation of other alternatives to detention by the authorities promoted by UNHCR has allowed the resumption of further services in some closed facilities in support to the efforts by the Greek authorities and in close collaboration with other humanitarian partners. Meanwhile, returns to Turkey started on 4 April, with 441 people who opted not to seek asylum in Greece returned until 31 May 2016.