OPERATIONAL CONTEXT
During the month of June, the situation in Greece continued to evolve. High temperatures on the islands and on mainland exacerbated dire living conditions resulting in increase of tensions. The heatwave has been particularly challenging for young children and the elderly. In North Greece temperatures reached 47°C inside the Army tents which are currently being replaced with UNHCR family tents which are cooler and water-proof.
On the mainland, more sites have been established by the Greek authorities, while the evacuation of the informal sites of EKO gas station and BP Hara gas station in North Greece was completed by the Hellenic Police on 13-14 June. The Alternate Minister of Migration Policy, Ioannis Mouzalas, announced in the media the intention to close a significant number of sites by September, stating that “the government’s plan is for these camps to be closed and for refugees and migrants to be distributed equally throughout Greece, near large cities, in camps and apartments with less than 1,000 people by region, so as to avoid creating ghettos and to start a process of gradual integration, for as long as they remain in the country”. The authorities are assessing the sites, in collaboration with UNHCR, to identify which ones should close and which ones can be improved and remain open. Progressive decongestion of the informal site of Piraeus Port continued. About 800 refugees and migrants at the Port were transferred by the authorities from gate E1 to gate E2. Lack of hygiene, space, and access to water and sanitation facilities was of concern and coordination has been ongoing with the authorities to alleviate the dire conditions in the meantime that transfer to formal sites was organized. Tensions between refugee communities continued to emerge in various sites, particularly in Attica and North Greece. Spontaneous population movements from North and Central Greece to Athens and between sites in Attica were also recorded. An increase in movement at the land border area of Evros (Didimoticho) in both directions (irregular exit-entry) has been observed.
On the Aegean Islands, new arrivals remained low with a daily average of 50 people, slightly decreased compared to the average daily arrivals of 56 recorded in May 2016. The total arrivals in Greece from 1 January to 30 June 2016 reached 158,311 people, with 1,488 arrived in June. Examination of asylum applications on the merits of manifestly unfounded claims by Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and other nationalities started on the islands. All Syrians who applied for asylum in Lesvos have been examined through the admissibility procedure at first instance, while the process is ongoing on other islands. Following the amendment in the asylum law changing the composition of the Appeals Committees approved by the Greek Parliament on 16 June 2016 (L 4375/2016), the Committees will now be made up of two judges of the Administrative Courts, appointed by the General Commissioner of the Administrative Courts, and one lawyer nominated by UNHCR. For the first time in 2016, refugees and migrants arrived on the island of Crete (177 in total) in late May-early June, and other 35 arrived on the island of Kythnos, Cyclades, on 20 June. The new arrivals reportedly departed from Antalya and Marmaris, Turkey, respectively. From Crete they were transferred to Kos and from Kythnos to Leros Reception and Identification Centres (RIC), for registration.
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Greece on 17-19 June, accompanied by his spouse and a delegation of 17 UN officials, including UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Volker Turk. From the island of Lesvos, where he met with refugees, authorities, humanitarian actors and volunteers, the SG called on countries in the region to respond with humane and human rights-based approach, instead of border closures, barriers and bigotry. He also commended the Greek authorities, people and humanitarian community for their extraordinary response, “filoxenia” (friendship towards strangers) and solidarity.