Chios

Δημοσίευση: December 10, 2024

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The facility in Chios has been established in a previously abandoned aluminum factory. Half of the factory is currently used as a waste separation and recovery center, which causes intense odors in the summer.

The property is leased from the Municipality of Chios, which has won a first-instance legal case for its attribution, and has initiated exploratory procedures for reclaiming it. The lease agreement has expired and continues through unilateral extensions granted by the Greek state.

Key statistics for the Chios CCAC

Shortages in basic necessities

Within the facility, there are significant shortages of blankets, clothing, and hygiene products. Upon arrival at the CCAC, individuals are given only one blanket, even though some containers lack functioning air conditioning, leaving residents in the cold. Additionally, they receive a single hygiene kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary pads, diapers, etc.) only upon their arrival. For the remainder of their stay, residents are required to purchase hygiene items on their own.

NGOs and volunteers, supported by donations from Greece and abroad, strive to address these critical shortages. Organizations such as Offene Arme, Refugee Biriyani & Bananas (RBB), and the local collective Chios Solidarity are active in this effort.

Meals are distributed three times a day on weekdays, but some meals are distributed all together at once during weekends. There are no refrigerators in the containers to store food. Complaints about the quality of the meals have led some residents to re-cook their portions. Each resident is provided with 3 litres of potable water daily. While water supply is consistent, and there is hot water, rodents and cockroaches are present despite pest control efforts. Overall, the spaces are clean, and there is an adequate supply of mattresses compared to other facilities.

No doctors and psychosocial support

Since 2021, there has been no permanent doctor at the CCAC.

According to the Reception and Identification Service’ s response to us (as of November 11, 2024), the facility employs six nurses, two midwives, three social workers, and two psychologists. Nurses handle medical documentation and forward it to a doctor who signs the medical records. Primary healthcare services are unavailable in the afternoons and on weekends, so even minor emergencies must be referred to the understaffed Chios hospital by police or emergency medical services.

Psychosocial evaluations are nearly impossible due to the severe shortage of interpreters, who must focus on urgent needs (eg. interpretation for the custody of minors).

Severe staffing shortages during shifts

Staff shortages worsen the distribution of essential items within the facility, especially on weekends and holidays. The few employees on duty are overwhelmed. Additionally, there are no interpreters available at the CCAC during weekends.

Victory against the construction of a super-facility in the Tholos area

The long-standing struggle of the local community against the construction of a closed facility in Tholos was vindicated on 21 October 2024. The Multimember Court of First Instance of Chios ruled that the land belongs to the Municipality of Chios and not the Greek state. The European Union, through the Emergency Support Mechanism, would fully finance its construction. For the past four years, the local community has consistently opposed the construction of this facility, with the Municipality of Chios filing a lawsuit over ownership against the Greek state. The Municipal Council of Chios has repeatedly and unanimously opposed the construction of the facility in the Tholos area. A series of court rulings had already prevented access to the contested area for construction equipment. The new Minister of Migration insisted that the facility be built on this site and extended the construction project.

However, this court ruling effectively cancels the Ministry’s plans.

The strong opposition of local communities to the creation of such facilities was highlighted in a statement from the North Aegean Region:

Announcement by the North Aegean Region

“Chios and Lesvos have turned a new page, and any plans for creating or operating facilities as proposed by the Ministry of Migration are universally rejected by us.” Source

*Names of persons cited in this publication have been changed to protect safety and privacy.