Greece saw an unprecedented number of arrivals in 2015, with almost 860,000 people crossing its borders, predominantly by sea. Despite the Office’s advocacy and capacity building actions, in the previous year, the State of Greece remained clearly unable and unprepared to address this massive movement of people in terms of both policy and practice. UNHCR Greece transition, from a national office of 14 national staff members, to a full-fledged L2 Emergency operation counting 214 staff members, enabled the Office to develop operational presence in the majority of the entry/border locations within 2015 and to address the multiple and complex protection and humanitarian issues arising in the context of first reception/arrival.
Until approximately the end of November 2015, and restrictions of border crossing based on nationality, refugees and migrants were pursuing and were, to the vast majority, able to depart from Greece, within an irregular onward movement through the Western Balkans route and up to Germany. UNHCR’s responses to this population ‘on the move’ focused on immediate humanitarian assistance, improvement of first line reception, security, inter-agency coordination and continued advocacy efforts for the establishment of appropriate State responses, including in compliance with EC Regulations regarding proper screening and identification of new arrivals. Various jeopardising situations for PoC, including riots, unrest, insecurity as to applied procedures and delays, at the entry points, were avoided and to a large extent UNHCR’s activities ensured safety of life and security of the individuals at its fundamental meaning. UNHCR advocated for safe access to territory and supported the competent authorities (Coast Guard and Police) not only in terms of shore-line presence and provision of immediate assistance, but also in administrative processing, and to various assistance schemes for the newly arriving population, including support to survivors of shipwrecks, transit facilities for children, identification, accommodation and referral of persons with specific needs.
UNHCR provided material and technical assistance to improve the first reception sites in all main island locations, and set up additional reception capacity, thus enabling a more humane treatment of PoC. Protection concerns (including SGBV, child protection) were identified and to some extent addressed, considering the deeply transient nature of the population. Information provision, communication with communities and strong cooperation with local authorities and local societies were developed to ensure refugees enjoy basic standards and rights upon arrival.
The situation at the border with fYROM was addressed from a humanitarian imperative perspective.
UNHCR designed its accommodation support capacity within the relocation scheme and initiated the project within a challenging environment where most refugees could not be convinced as to the benefits of a legal avenue and opted for an irregular movement.
Following European policy decisions that impacted the overall situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, in particular the ‘closure of the Balkans route’, a population of several thousands of refugees and migrants found themselves remaining in Greece in pursuit of durable solutions or legal avenues to Europe. UNHCR, in close cooperation with the Greek State, is in the process of developing mechanisms to ensure decent reception conditions in the mainland, access to asylum, prevention of exploitation, abuse and ill-treatment, in particular of women and children, while supporting integration and the relocation option for persons of concern.