Greece vows to improve living conditions of refugees on islands

Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Vitsas introduced on Thursday an action plan for 2019 to improve the living conditions of refugees who remain stranded across the country.

According to the data presented during a press briefing, approximately 42,000 refugees and migrants entered Greece illegally in 2018. This year, the biggest challenge was the increased number in arrivals in Greece's Evros region.

"Until Nov. 12, a total of 14,250 arrivals have been recorded via Evros route. In 2017, the arrivals reached 5,500 people," Vitsas said.

Evros region that separates Greece from Turkey has seen migrant flows surge after the EU-Turkey deal sealed to suspend the route via the Aegean Sea.

Vitsas stressed that among the government's priorities is to decongest the reception centers in northern Aegean Sea islands that are overcrowded, and to speed up the assessing procedures of asylum seekers.

"From Jan. 1 to Nov. 12, 2018, a total of 28,031 people arrived at the islands of Northern Aegean Sea, while at the same time there were 23,014 transfers to the mainland, " he said, "In addition, 290 refugees returned to Turkey under the EU-Turkey deal and 886 people returned voluntarily to their countries. Last 177 people were sent to Germany under the family reunification scheme and four returned to Greece under the agreement for the return of migrants and refugees from Germany to Greece," he stressed

The situation on the islands remains hard and difficult as the flows continue and the asylum procedures are being delayed.

Until the end of the year, 6,000 people will be transferred from the islands to the mainland. Of them 5,000 will be settled in hotels and apartments, while the other 1,000 will be housed under the program ESTIA which is provided by UNHCR in partnership with the municipalities.

To help Greece meet the housing and protection needs of the most vulnerable groups of migrants and refugees ahead of the winter, the European Commission announced also an additional 43.7 million euros in emergency support to the International Organization for Migration.

In parallel, Vitsas announced the plan to create medical centers in the reception centers to offer instant medical care to the refugees, to expand accommodation to cover refugees' needs and to promote integration programs to the refugees granted asylum in order to help them find a job and be part of the society.

"I believe that in 2019 there will be a decrease in migrant flows. Otherwise, the arrivals will stay at the same level or up by 20 percent in comparison to 2018," he estimated.