Why are we there?
- Healthcare exclusion
Latest links
- Greece: MSF responds to malaria outbreak
- Greece: Dentention centres make migrants more ill
- Greece: Migrants detained in inhumane conditions
Historical
Latest Activity Report (2011)
During the first nine months of 2011, some 1,000 migrants were arriving at the Greek border every day, many in need of medical attention.
Undocumented migrants
The Evros River, on the Greek–Turkish border, is the main entry point in Europe for undocumented migrants.
In 2011, border controls were tightened: a fence was built along the northern border, and a team from Frontex, the EU border security agency, was deployed in the northeast.
Consequently, the number of people arriving in north Evros fell by almost one half compared with 2010. However, there was a threefold increase in arrivals in south Evros.
On entering the country, migrants are arrested by the police. They are registered and given an expulsion order.
Many voluntarily give themselves up to the police, because without an expulsion order they cannot buy a bus or train ticket to continue their journey.
A doctor examines a young patient who has been detained in the border police station of Soufli, Evros
© Julia Kourafa / MSF
Critical conditions in detention
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctorrs Without Borders (MSF) began providing relief items and healthcare at the border police stations of Feres, Soufli and Tychero in 2010, and reported on the critical situation for migrants and asylum seekers in detention.
In 2011, hygiene and sanitation remained poor, with the emergency standard of one latrine for 20 people exceeded almost fourfold throughout the year.
Detainees were not provided with any basic necessities, such as cooking utensils, soap or blankets, nor with any legal information or counselling. The Ministry of Health irregularly provided only basic health services.
There was no medical surveillance or follow-up in the detention centres. MSF systematically reported these problems.
In March, the Ministry of Health began to address direct medical needs, and MSF handed over its activities. However, in August, the ministry suspended its work due to lack of funds, and MSF again provided medical assistance and water and sanitation services in five detention centres.
In October, the Ministry of Health resumed its operations, and a second MSF handover was finalised.
Between January and April, and August and September, MSF teams held nearly 2,700 medical consultations, as well as more than 170 mental health sessions.
Filakio
At Filakio, MSF distributed basic essentials, such as sleeping bags, washing kits, towels, toothbrushes and clothing.
The teams also repaired blocked toilets and broken windows, disinfected cells and distributed materials so that detainees could keep their living quarters clean.
Vulnerable people left without shelter
In an effort to ease overcrowding, the Greek authorities made a decision not to detain people for longer than one or two days.
However, without the means to move on or find shelter, many people, including pregnant women and young children, ended up sleeping outside the detention centres and police stations in harsh weather conditions.
MSF teams regularly distributed sleeping bags, warm clothes and soap.
At the end of 2011, MSF had three field staff in Greece. MSF has been providing medical assistance in the country since 2008.
Patient story
Charles*: 27 years old
“I come from Ivory Coast. My father arranged for me and my two brothers to leave the country. If we did not leave, we were in danger of being killed. I lost my brothers in Turkey. I don’t know where they are now.
“I crossed the river in a small boat. My friend was rowing when a tree branch hit him. He fell in the water and drowned. We took his dead body out of the water, we left him there at the river bank and left.
“Then they arrested us and brought us to this border police station. I have been here for 45 days. I heard that they have registered me as Nigerian. I don’t know why they did that.
"I have talked with the policemen many times, also with the police commander, but nobody explains to me why. I don’t know where my brothers are. I tried to call my father twice, but he did not answer. He might be dead. I cannot stay here any more. Please help me.”
* The patient’s name has been changed.
