Increased flow of unaccompanied minors in Greece: NGOs warn of "Child Emergency Situation"
Greece is facing a "child emergency situation" due to the rising influx of unaccompanied refugee minors arriving on the Aegean islands and Crete. According to NGOs, the number of refugee minors has doubled in 2024, with over 13,000 children arriving from Libya and other regions, exacerbating the already strained conditions in overcrowded refugee facilities.
Sofia Kouvelaki, head of the Home Project, told the Guardian: "What we're witnessing is a child emergency situation that we haven't seen in years." NGOs emphasize the urgent need for safe accommodation spaces for children, as existing facilities are overwhelmed.
The increase in arrivals is primarily from Libya, with new routes through Crete, while the UNHCR notes that this year, 13,000 minors have arrived, of which around 3,000 are unaccompanied or separated from their parents. "A huge number of children are arriving daily, and there is an urgent need for the creation of more safe spaces," Kouvelaki highlighted.
The Greek government acknowledges the situation, with Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos stating in parliament that geopolitical upheavals and the climate crisis are increasing migration flows. However, cuts in funding for infrastructure and the implementation of strict migration policies have limited the country's ability to protect refugee children.
Incidents of violence and abuse have risen in overcrowded facilities, with the most recent shocking example being the group assault and abuse of an Egyptian teenager at the Malakasa camp by other refugees. Authorities condemned the incident but stated that they are in the process of creating 500 additional spaces for children in protected environments "once the necessary funding is found."
Lefteris Papagiannakis, director of the Greek Council for Refugees, commented: "When part of the system malfunctions, everything malfunctions," stressing the significant weaknesses in the reception system. He and other aid organizations have pointed out the shortages in essential services, such as interpreters and guardians, which put children at risk and delay asylum procedures.
