UNHCR alarmed by detention of unaccompanied children in Lesvos, Greece
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Earlier this week UNHCR staff visited the detention centre at Pagani on the Greek Island of Lesvos. They were shocked at the conditions in the facility, where more than 850 people are held, including 200 unaccompanied children, mostly from Afghanistan.
The centre has a capacity of 250-300 people. The UNHCR staff described the condition of the centre as unacceptable. One room houses over 150 women and 50 babies, many suffering from illness related to the cramped and unsanitary conditions of the centre.
The Deputy Minister of Health and Social Solidarity has given UNHCR his assurances that all the unaccompanied children at Pagani will be transferred to special reception facilities by the end of the month. The Ministry has already taken some measures to that effect.
The situation in Pagani is indicative of broader problems relating to irregular migration and Greece's asylum system. Last year, UNHCR, with the support of the Greek Ministry of Interior, presented recommendations for a complete overhaul of the asylum system, including specific measures to protect asylum-seeking children. To date, these proposals have not been implemented.
In 2008, the Greek Coast Guard reported the arrival of 2,648 unaccompanied children, but many more are believed to have entered the country undetected. Greece has no process for assessing the individual needs and best interests of these children. While the government has made efforts to increase the number of places for children at specialized, open centres, arrivals outstrip these efforts and children remain in detention for long periods.
UNHCR is participating in an EU funded project that aims to improve reception facilities on the islands of Samos, Chios and Lesvos and at the Evros land border.
Related news and stories
Ukrainian refugees relieve stress with a support dog named Noir
A safe space for Ukraine's refugees in Romania
UNHCR, UNICEF establish dozens of support hubs in countries hosting Ukrainian refugees
'I have seen first-hand how children's education has suffered'
Sir Lewis Hamilton backs UNHCR's campaign on refugee education
Sudanese refugees in Chad face challenges to deliver education
-
Statement of UNDP Opening by Mr. Achim STEINER
14 Dec 2021 -
Statement of Japan Spotlight session
14 Dec 2021 -
Statement of Turkey_ Ms. Fatma ŞAHİN (Turkish)
14 Dec 2021 -
Employment Pathways
-
Refugee women scale Atlas mountain to tackle gender violence
13 Dec 2021 An all-female group including 13 refugees from six countries set out to climb Mount Toubkal – Morocco's highest peak – to highlight the struggle to end violence against women. -
Rapid analysis on meaningful participation pledges
13 Dec 2021 The infographic provides an overview of pledges related to meaningful refugee participation submitted at the Global Refugee Forum. The analysis includes both pledges that have meaningful participation as a main objective and pledges that specifically mention the intention to involve persons of concern in implementing its activities. -
High-level Officials Meeting List of speakers
13 Dec 2021 List of speakers for the High-Level Officials Meeting (December 2021). -
Connected Education for Refugees: Addressing the Digital Divide
13 Dec 2021 UNHCR released the Connected Education For Refugees: Addressing the Digital Divide report that provides an overview of the current status and challenges faced by refugees in accessing digital learning opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also highlights the additional measures taken to extend access to refugee-hosting communities, putting forward recommendations on how to better design for more inclusive digital learning programmes that can benefit all learners. -
Operational Strategy for Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability 2022-2025
13 Dec 2021 This document explains UNHCR's plan of action to mitigate the impact of climate change on forcibly displaced people and their hosts, support their resilience and minimize the environmental footprint of humanitarian assistance. The strategy aims to improve the predictability of UNHCR's engagement in responding to emergencies brought on by climate-related and other natural hazards; incorporate climate and environmental considerations into responses; and improve the sustainability of the end-to-end supply chain.