Kos
- Published:
Since early 2024, there has been a significant increase in arrivals on the island. The CCAC also receives individuals transferred from nearby islands, such as Rhodes, Symi, Tilos, Astypalaia, and Kalymnos. The lifting of the geographical restriction and transfers from Kos to mainland facilities occur more easily than in the past, especially when the CCAC exceeds its capacity. However, the centre remains overcrowded for extended periods.
Key statistics for the Kos CCAC
Infrastructure issues and maintenance deficiencies
Three years after its inauguration in November 2021, the CCAC on Kos – funded entirely by EU resources – already exhibits significant wear and malfunctions. Structural flaws and poor workmanship are evident, while bureaucratic hurdles related to fund allocation hinder basic maintenance work.
The sewage and wastewater treatment system struggles to cope when the number of residents exceeds the centre’s capacity, which happens frequently.
At the end of September, a residential floor was flooded with sewage for an extended period, causing the floors to warp and rendering the space unusable. Asylum seekers reported damp conditions and infiltration of running and/or dirty water into their rooms, leading to skin conditions, which they showed us.
Testimony
“There is sewage in the corridors and rooms near the toilets, which causes blisters on the feet. Most people who go to the hospital have blisters on their feet” – Muhammad*, asylum seeker from Syria
Due to the inadequacy and unfitness of available facilities, parts of the adjacent Pre-Removal Detention Centre within the CCAC complex, as well as dining and restaurant areas, are occasionally used as accommodation.
Low-quality food and lack of basic supplies
Food distribution occurs only once a day, during which all three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are provided. There are no facilities for heating or preparing food, and these activities are strictly prohibited. For this reason, even raw vegetables are not allowed to be brought into the CCAC.
There are complaints about the food’s quality and about insufficient potable water compared to what is mandated. Reports of food poisoning have also been recorded.
Testimony
“There isn’t enough food. Usually, we get only pasta, potatoes, and two small pieces of bread. For every two people, we receive three bottles of drinking water a day” – Ahmed* from Kuwait
Shortages extend to food for young children.
Testimony
“Milk is very hard to get, and they only provide it in a glass” – Parwana*, a mother from Afghanistan
Sleeping mattresses are dirty, washing machines do not work, and hygiene items are provided only once upon arrival. There are significant shortages of clothing, even for young children.
Testimony
“Many children don’t have winter clothes”- Parwana*
Residents are forced to seek even basic supplies, such as soap and sanitary products, from organisations and volunteers in Pyli and Kos town.
Testimonies
“There isn’t much hot water. Water gets into the buildings. The children have skin problems. There’s a doctor, but often no interpreter. We buy medicines ourselves”- Parwana*
“We sleep six people in a small room with small bunk beds. They never gave us soap. We went to an organisation to get some” – Ahmed*
During this time, there have been increased reports of dermatological issues. Syrian asylum seekers told us that some days the tap water appears cloudy, and they avoid washing with it.
Insufficient medical care and inadequate vulnerability assessments
For the past two years, no permanent doctor has been stationed in the CCAC. Medical needs are covered sporadically by visiting doctors from other areas and a military doctor. The Reception and Identification Service’ response to us (as of 11/11/2024) confirmed that the CCAC employs only three nurses and two social workers, but no doctors.
At the General Hospital-Health Centre of Kos “Hippocrates,” located 15 km from the CCAC, there are significant long-standing shortages in key medical specialties – for instance, no permanent pathologist or cardiologist is available. Only one hospital ambulance is staffed and operational. The hospital faces additional pressure during the summer months due to increased tourist activity. Since August 2024, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been active outside the CCAC, as well as once weekly outside the hospital, providing medical services to both refugees and locals. Additionally, the island hosts a mobile volunteer medical team from Medical Volunteers International (MVI), offering basic emergency care.
Due to the lack of medical staff, the mandated medical screening processes and vulnerability assessments are not conducted. For instance, an asylum seeker with diabetes remained in the centre for about two months without receiving proper medication to manage his condition. In one case legally represented by RSA, no vulnerability assessment was performed for a survivor of torture, even after a formal request by our lawyers.
Restricted freedom of movement, even within the CCAC
Movement within the CCAC is strictly controlled. Residents cannot freely move from one area to another. Security staff from a private company monitor not only the external gates but also the gates of each internal sector, determining whether residents can exit or move between areas. These decisions are made without interpreter assistance. Residents are not allowed to visit accommodation areas other than their own.
There is no direct access for residents to offices handling administrative actions, medical exams, or asylum procedures. Barriers to reaching these offices have been reported, at times delaying critical actions before asylum authorities. Security measures are extremely strict; metal objects are prohibited, with reports including cases where even spoons were not allowed to be brought into the centre.
Testimonies
“You feel like an animal in a cage. It’s hard to leave or enter the centre. When you want to leave, you must inform an official” – Ahmed*
Incidents of Racist Behaviour
The presence of police is particularly noticeable in Kos town, with frequent reports of arbitrary detainment and body searches of CCAC residents, even incidents of racist violence. Discriminatory treatment at the hospital has also been reported, along with an incident of hostile behaviour toward an organisation’s members, including damage to their vehicle.
*Names of persons cited in this publication have been changed to protect safety and privacy.
Read also
Main report on all the islands
The situation in the CCACs in detail by island:
Available also in greek / Διαθέσιμο και στα ελληνικά
Our previous publication on the situation in Kos (2023)
Refugee Support Aegean (RSA), December 2024