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Samos Operational Update

Asylum seekers and refugees continue to arrive in Greece in search for safety. We provide first aid to people coming to the Greek islands Lesvos and Samos, and sexual and reproductive healthcare to migrants in Athens.

Our activities in 2023 in Greece

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2023.

MSF in Greece in 2023 Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) assists migrants, refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Greece, many of whom have endured trauma in their home countries, on their journeys or at European borders.
Greece IAR map 2023

In 2023, restrictive European Union and Greek migration policies continued to take a severe toll on the physical and mental health of people seeking safety in Europe. Many of those arriving in Greece, whether by sea or land, were reportedly pushed back or placed in Closed Controlled Access Centres (CCACs) and later released into the country with little to no assistance.

Throughout 2023, our teams in Greece documented people’s reports of degrading treatment, including physical violence at sea or on arrival on the islands of Samos and Lesbos. The dire humanitarian situation was compounded as more and more people arriving were placed inside CCACs, and the majority were operating beyond their capacity. As a result, there was a lack of basic items such as bed covers, food, water, and hygiene supplies, and services, resulting in various avoidable health conditions, including respiratory and skin infections. The conditions also further impacted people’s mental health.

Our teams continued to provide timely and essential medical and psychological assistance to people on arrival, inside camps, and within the community. We run day centres and/or mobile clinics in Athens and on Lesbos and Samos, as well as providing emergency medical assistance for new arrivals. Our comprehensive response includes general healthcare, mental health support, and sexual and reproductive health services.

Our teams also treat patients with infectious and non-communicable diseases, and victims and survivors of sexual violence and torture. To ensure that people receive the necessary support, our multidisciplinary approach also comprises health promotion, intercultural mediation, and social and legal services.

During the year, MSF teams offered emergency medical and psychological first aid to thousands of people upon disembarkation on Lesbos and Samos, and organised hospital referrals for those needing further care. Finally, following massive floods in the region of Thessaly, our teams provided assistance to people affected.

Read more: https://www.msf.org/plain-sight-migration-policies-greek-sea-borders

 

in 2023
 
MSF mobile clinic in the Closed Control Access Centre in Zervou, Samos.
Greece

Closed centres for refugees on Greek islands exacerbate psychological trauma

Project Update 30 Nov 2022
 
Three people found handcuffed, four injured on the Aegean island of Lesvos (MSF)
Greece

People found handcuffed and injured on the Greek island of Lesvos

Press Release 25 Oct 2022
 
Emergency Medical Aid (EMA) for new arrivals in Samos, Greece
Greece

Fear, beatings and forced returns for people seeking safety on Greek island of Samos

Project Update 9 Aug 2022
 
AS-DRC-girls-web
Safe abortion care

A revolution in safe abortion care

Opinion 28 Sep 2021
 
Samos new centre
Greece

“We can only help our patients to survive” new camp on Samos

Opinion 17 Sep 2021
 
Mariam*, a woman originally from Afghanistan, who lives in Lesbos for two years.
Greece

One year on from Moria fire, EU denies dignity to migrants trapped on Greek islands

Project Update 10 Sep 2021
 
EU failed containment model Report
Greece

Greece and EU must change approach to migration as scale of people’s suffering revealed

Press Release 9 Jun 2021
 
Samos island
Mediterranean migration

Constructing Crisis at Europe’s Border

Report 9 Jun 2021
 
MSF response to Moria Fire
Greece

Open letter to Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner of Home Affairs

Open Letter 29 Mar 2021