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Hotspots

Living conditions on the Eastern Aegean islands’ overcrowded hotspots are consistently documented as critical and incompatible with human dignity posing a serious risk for the mental and physical wellbeing of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers confined there. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted yet again the risks faced by people exposed to these conditions.  Following the destruction of Moria hotspot by consecutive fires in early September, thousands of refugees including those most vulnerable were confined by police for several days in a road between Moria and Kara Tepe without basic means of subsistence. They were then transferred to a new temporary camp (the so-called ‘Moria.2’) where conditions are substandard.   Meanwhile in late October, following a massive and unannounced police operation, the authorities forced the closure of PIKPA camp, one of the very few dignified accommodation alternatives for refugees on Lesvos.

RSA continues systematically to document and highlight the impact of such conditions upon refugees and asylum seekers living in hotspots and has brought before the European Court of Human Rights a number of cases requesting the immediate transfers of extremely vulnerable asylum-seekers outside Moria. In spring 2020, the Court ordered the immediate transfer of the individuals concerned out of Moria to protect them from treatment contrary to Article 3 ECHR.

06 Feb: Disgraceful living conditions in the ‘state-of-the-art’ Closed Controlled Access Centre of Samos

Disgraceful living conditions prevail in the overcrowded Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC) in Samos.

31 Jan: Not again in 2024: Call for upholding human rights in the Samos Closed Controlled Access Centre

Joint call for the closure of the Samos CCAC and for adequate accommodation for people, within communities and in housing.

15 Jun: HUNDREDS DENIED FOOD ON LESVOS

41 organisations call to ensure human dignity and access to food and water.

03 May: Lesvos

What is happening today in the refugee structures in the Aegean islands: Lesvos CCAC

03 May: Chios

What is happening today in the refugee structures in the Aegean islands: Chios CCAC

03 May: Samos

What is happening today in the refugee structures in the Aegean islands: Samos CCAC.

03 May: Kos

What is happening today in the refugee structures in the Aegean islands: Kos CCAC.

03 May: Leros

What is happening today in the refugee structures in the Aegean islands: Leros CCAC

28 Jan: Massive protests by islanders are challenging the government’s narrative on new prison structures in the Aegean

Two years after the violent crackdown on citizens in Chios and Lesvos who oppose the transformation of the islands into prisons for refugees and migrants, dissatisfaction with the refugee response is growing.

28 Jan: Michalis Psimitis: “The anti-immigration policy makes the islands an arena of conflicts and tensions”

Michalis Psimitis, Professor of Sociology at the University of the Aegean and Coordinator of the Anti-Racist Observatory of the University of the Aegean, explains the goals served by the escalation of control and surveillance regimes for refugees

24 Apr: Another dignified reception facility shut down

Another dignified reception facility shut down Another dignified reception facility shut down Photo: Elias Marcou The refugee reception facility run…

13 Apr: Excluded and Segregated | The vanishing education of refugee children in Greece

Excluded and Segregated The vanishing education of refugee children in Greece​ Excluded and Segregated The vanishing education of refugee children…

13 Apr: Executive summary: Excluded and Segregated. The vanishing education of refugee children in Greece

In a report titled “Excluded and Segregated. The vanishing education of refugee children in Greece”, Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) tracks…

06 Dec: Greece, EU: Move Asylum Seekers to Safety. End Containment Policy, Organize Transfers Now

(Athens, December 6, 2018) – The Greek government and its European Union partners should urgently ensure that all asylum seekers…

22 Nov: Surviving in Moria

The situation in the Aegean hotspots remains very critical despite persistent calls from NGOs and international organizations to end the…

09 Oct: The “hotspots” experiment: removing human rights from the equation

Gradually, hotspots on the Greek islands have acquired more characteristics far different to those initially announced in terms of their…

15 Mar: #StopTheToxicDeal DETENTION

In the framework of their campaign #StopTheToxicDeal RSA and PRO ASYL publish today the fourth topic that concerns Detention. #StopTheToxicDeal

07 Mar: #StopTheToxicDeal Reception Conditions

In the framework of their campaign #StopTheToxicdeal RSA and PRO ASYL publish today the first topic that concerns reception conditions…

16 Feb: Majority of refugee children in the Aegean Islands Hot Spots are excluded from education

Despite the Government announcements that it will ensure access to education for all refugee children living in Greece, the majority…

25 Oct: WINTER HAS ARRIVED: Thousands left at the mercy of winter in Greek hot-spots

Despite repeated warnings from numerous organisations thousands of refugees will be in danger as weather deteriorates. The Greek government has…

20 Jul: Voices of the refugees stuck in “Moria” hotspot

Violence and tensions currently tend to become routine at the Reception and Identification Center (RIC) – the so-called hotspot in…

17 Jul: Serious gaps in the care of refugees in Greek hotspots; Vulnerability assessment system is breaking down

Following the departure of Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), medical and social services have seriously been minimised in the Registration and Identification…

15 Jun: Greek Hotspots: Deaths Not to Be Forgotten

(a joint PRO ASYL / Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) Policy Note) 14th June 2017 Greek Hotspots: Deaths Not to Be…

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