Greece

In 2023, restrictive EU 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 Centers (CCACs) and later released into the country with little to no assistance.

Our teams in Greece have documented reports of degrading treatment, including physical violence at sea or upon arrival on the islands of Samos and Lesbos. The dire humanitarian situation has been compounded as more people who arrive are placed in CCACs, with the majority of which operating beyond their capacity and facing a lack of basic items such as bed covers, food, water, hygiene supplies, and services. As a result, various avoidable health conditions have arisen, including respiratory and skin infections. The conditions also negatively impact people’s mental health. 

Our teams continued to provide timely and essential medical and psychological assistance to migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers upon arrival, inside camps, and within the community. We run daycare centers and mobile clinics in Athens and the islands of Lesbos and Samos, as well as providing emergency medical assistance for new arrivals. Our comprehensive response includes general health care, mental health support, and sexual and reproductive health services.