Filippiada camp

Filippiada camp was established in the former “Petropoulaki” army camp in Epirus. It is located in a mountainous area and is about 4km distance from the same named village. The nearest towns are Arta (13,7km) and Ioannina (58,2km). The camp is situated on a large gravel-covered area. The back of the camp faces a dense forest.

The Greek Army, the Ministry of Migration Policy and RIS are responsible for camp management. Since 15 February 2018, Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB) has been responsible for site management support.^[1] EODY staff provides primary health care. A program run by ARSIS providing assistance to vulnerable refugees (children and victims of GBV) ended in December 2018.^[2] Until then, the organization in co-operation with EODY was managing referrals of people with special needs.^[3]

Filippiada opened on 18 March 2016, it had a reported official capacity of 700 and it was consisted of 83 tents.^[4] In November 2016, tents were replaced with prefabs.^[5] The number of residents did not exceed 200 to 300 persons until July 2018^[6] when the Ministry of Migration Policy extended the site and placed additional prefabs in order to host another 100 to 200 persons^[7] transferred from Samos and other Aegean islands.^[8] In May 2019, two dozens of single women from African origin were reportedly transferred to the site as well as a dozen of Farsi-speaking families.

In mid-October 2018, the camp had a reported official capacity of 700 and 487 residents.^[9] The majority of residents during that period were children (53 %). At the end of January 2019, the number of residents reached 570 following transfers from the islands.^[10]

Refugees speaking to RSA were worried about access to medical assistance as among the camps residents were vulnerable persons such as pregnant women young children, persons with chronic conditions and victims of torture. Those interviewed were concerned about the limitations in the services provided by EODY and the visiting army doctor including the lack of psychologist and gynaecologist in the camp. They stated, that by the end of 2018 until today there were weeks where only nurses were present and no doctor was visiting. Residents told RSA that a paediatrician was visiting the camp once a week.

Limited interpretation was another cause of worry. At the time of RSA’s initial research in August 2018, there was only an Arab interpreter and no interpreter for Farsi in the camp. Refugees needing hospital or specialized treatment had to travel to Arta or Ioannina and to buy medicines they had to go to a pharmacy located 4km away in Filippiada village. They were also very worried about the time that an ambulance would take to come to the camp in emergency cases. Transport costs to access health care, and other services found only in Athens and Thessaloniki (i.e. for victims of torture) added to their concerns. / ASB was providing for free transfers to Ioannina and Arta regularly on specific days.^[11]

“When my son had to be transferred to hospital for his infection, the ambulance took him to Arta. There was no dermatologist that day. We were then told we had to go back on our own and find our way to Ioannina hospital. What will happen if one of us has an emergency case?”

Baha R.* (40)^[12] from Iran, Filippiada camp
She escaped with her husband Amir K.* (50), who is a victim of torture and their two children. They arrived in Filippiada camp from Vaghiochori.

“My husband sleeps at the door of our container to protect us. Some women here lost their babies and had miscarriages from the stress and fear. I am lucky my baby was born healthy. I was scared because we are far from the hospital. I got asthma from the life in a container. Actually, this is not a life… . We don’t have a today and there is no hope for a tomorrow.”

Parwana K.* (38)^[13] from Afghanistan, recognized refugee, Filippiada camp
She fled with her husband Mohammad L.* (40) and their three children. They arrived from Lesvos island and left Greece by the end of 2018.

Those interviewed spoke about their worry about lack of security in the camp and fights breaking between refugees and said there were problems with the weak electricity.

“Recently there was a big fight with knives. How should we protect them here? During the fight we escaped outside of the camp and hugged our children tight until it was over. That night we slept outside of the camp from fear. They built a playground for the children now inside the camp, but we are scared to go there or to let our children go there. The camp is very dark during the night. … I just tell you, I have daughters and we cannot go out of the container. There is a lot screaming and other scary noises. There are a lot of single men.”

Fachnaz K.* (30)^[14] from Syria, Filippiada camp
She escaped from Allepo with her husband Mezgid M.* (35) and their four children. They arrived from Diavata camp after crossing the land border.

In September 2016, local parents protested about the enrolment of refugee children in the village school.^[15] As of September 2018 less than 60% of children living the camp attended formal education.^[16] As of October 2018, there were no interpretation services available for the school and no vocational training for adults in the site.^[17]