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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
 
Children with Chronic diseases in Moria
Greece

Greece denies healthcare to seriously ill refugee children on Lesbos

Press Release 23 Jan 2020
 
Lesbos and Samos Oct2019
Greece

European leaders: Stop punishing asylum seekers on the Greek islands

Open Letter 27 Nov 2019
 
Moria Camp
Greece

Greek and EU authorities deliberately neglecting people trapped on islands

Press Release 5 Sep 2019
 
Pneumonia vaccination - Greek islands
Access to medicines

Humanitarian mechanism for vaccines used for first time in Europe to counter high prices

Press Release 12 Apr 2019
 
Samos - March 2019
Refugees, IDPs and people on the move

EU-Turkey deal continues cycle of containment and despair

Press Release 18 Mar 2019
 
Mobile Clinic - Moria Camp
Greece

Vaccinating over 2,000 refugee children in Moria, Lesbos

Project Update 21 Nov 2018
 
Trapped in Moria
Greece

Psychotherapy with children in Lesbos

Voices from the Field 20 Nov 2018
 
Moria's olive grove
Greece

No roof, no recovery

Voices from the Field 17 Oct 2018
 
Trapped in Moria
Greece

“It is difficult to believe this is Europe”

msf.org 21 Sep 2018