UNHCR’s Representation in Greece expanded yesterday its support to the temporary accommodation of new arrivals in Kalymnos, by installing new hygiene facilities at the island’s port. In nearby Kos, the local office of the UN Refugee Agency furthered its support to the registration procedure by handing over today a series of ICT equipment to the island’s Police Authorities.
On Kalymnos, UNHCR inaugurated on Friday a new block with hygiene facilities for the men, women and children that are temporarily accommodated at the port, pending the issuance of their administrative documents. The facilities, which are suitable, among others, for people with specific needs, were constructed with the assistance of the NGO Samaritan’s Purse.
UNHCR’s partner also facilitated the restoration of the nearby Divers School, which had suffered limited damages after been used as a temporary accommodation area for the new arrivals on Kalymnos. On Friday, UNHCR delivered the restored building to the Deputy Harbor Master.
On Saturday, UNHCR’s Office in Kos organized a small ceremony for the handover of ICT material to the Police, at the Governor’s Palace in Kos. The equipment includes a fingerprinting scanner, several Personal Computer sets, web cameras, multifunctional printers, wiring and computer consumables. The provision of the equipment was done in cooperation and agreement with the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reconstruction, with funding by the European Commission, in the framework of its emergency assistance to the most affected Member States under the Internal Security Fund – 2015.
“In a joint effort with the Greek authorities, UNHCR confirms its commitment to support refugee response on Kos, and to ensure effective solutions are identified and implemented, in the interest of the residents of the island, of its touristic vocation and of the refugees”, noted Marco Procaccini, UNHCR’s Head of Office in Kos.
UNHCR is already supporting the due process of the registration procedure, by providing information to the new arrivals on rights and steps to follow. The UN Refugee Agency also facilitates the identification and further referral of people with specific needs, including unaccompanied children, people with disabilities and survivors of shipwrecks. Besides, UNHCR provides interpreters to facilitate the access of refugees to services, including registration.
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