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Asylum seekers and refugees continue to arrive in Greece in search of safety, only to find themselves stranded indefinitely in the country.

Since the EU-Turkey deal in March 2016, migrants and refugees previously in transit through the Greek islands have been trapped for an indeterminate time in Reception and Identification Centres and Closed Controlled Access Centres. 

Our teams provides medical and mental healthcare to migrants in Athens and on the Greek islands of Lesvos and Samos. Our activities include sexual and reproductive healthcare, treating chronic diseases and providing care for survivors of sexual violence, psychological support and health promotion activities. On the islands of Lesvos and Samos we also provide emergency medical assistance to people in distress once they arrive by boat from Türkiye.

Our teams on Lesvos and Samos have reported overwhelming numbers of people suffering from serious mental health conditions while being contained on the islands. We have made repeated calls on the European Union and the Greek authorities to completely change their approach to migration, which is causing avoidable harm to the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.
 

Our activities in 2022 in Greece

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2022.

MSF in Greece in 2022 Restrictive EU and Greek migration policies continued to have a negative impact on the health and dignity of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants arriving in Greece in 2022.
Greece IAR map 2022

Throughout the year, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) staff witnessed the severe toll that precarious living conditions, arbitrary asylum procedures and fear of deportation was taking on people’s physical and mental health.  

Our teams continue to work on Lesbos and Samos islands, and in Athens, providing general healthcare, treatment for chronic diseases, psychological and psychiatric support, and sexual and reproductive health services, with a focus on survivors of sexual violence. Social and legal assistance is also available in our projects.  

On Samos, we run a day centre in Vathi, supporting the medical needs of refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants. We also provided general healthcare through mobile clinics within the Samos Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC).  

On Lesbos, MSF works in a clinic opposite the Mavrovouni CACC. During 2022, we offered emergency medical and psychological first aid to new arrivals on the island and organised ambulance referrals to the hospital for those needing further care. This intervention enabled us not only to ensure people’s safe landing, but also to bear witness to their reception by the authorities. 

In Athens, our day centre offers a range of healthcare and social and legal services for migrants excluded from the national health system. Social workers and cultural mediators help patients navigate the healthcare system and ensure their basic needs are met, while legal experts give advice on their human rights.

In addition, mobile clinics provide basic healthcare, sexual and reproductive health services and health promotion to people living in precarious conditions in the city, and in seven refugee camps in Attica region. For the first half of 2022, we ran our Access to Vaccination Against COVID-19 project, aiming to facilitate access to vaccinations for excluded migrants and refugees residing in these locations. 

 

in 2022
 
Living Conditions in Lesbos, Greece
Greece

EU border policies fuel mental health crisis for asylum seekers

Report 10 Oct 2017
 
Living Conditions in Lesbos, Greece
Greece

A dramatic deterioration for asylum seekers on Lesbos

Report 24 Jul 2017
 
Winter Living Conditions in Belgrade, Serbia
Refugees, IDPs and people on the move

Thousands trapped in freezing temperatures in Greece and the Balkans

Project Update 9 Jan 2017
 
Greece

Providing mental healthcare to stranded asylum seekers

Voices from the Field 9 Nov 2016
 
In Limbo - Journey's end in Athens, Greece
Greece

Vulnerable People Left Behind

Report 20 Oct 2016
 
Access to medicines

MSF welcomes GSK’s decision to lower the price of the pneumonia vaccine for some of the world’s most vulnerable children

Press Release 21 Sep 2016
 
Greece: MSF mobile clinics with midwifes and psychlogist in Elliniko camp (Athens)
Greece

Everyone here is very confused; we do not know what to expect

Voices from the Field 9 Sep 2016
 
Vaccination Campaign in Idomeni, Greece.
Greece

Expensive pneumonia vaccine key barrier to vaccinating refugee children

Project Update 14 Jul 2016
 
Photo Story

Healthcare for refugees at the Elliniko camp in Athens

7 Jul 2016
Photo Story