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Mainland camps

Since the beginning of large scale refugee arrivals in 2015 and the closure of the Balkan route in 2016, the Greek authorities have established in total 32 refugee camps in mainland Greece. Until March 2020, the vast majority of these camps lacked a legal basis. Poor conditions including sleeping in tents exposed to the weather elements, severe lack of safety and violence, remoteness of location and limited access to health care are among the deficiencies in these camps.

Due to the increase in persons arriving via North-Eastern Greece over the past year, a substantial number of asylum seekers have not officially undergone a referral from the authorities for the purpose of reception and remain as unofficial residents   of mainland camps such as Malakasa under wholly substandard conditions.

RSA regularly documents conditions in mainland camps and supports cases of vulnerable individuals living there.

20 Jul: In search of safety: The struggle of Afghan single mothers in Greece

Refugee single mothers face aggravated challenges and protection risks in Greece.

21 Mar: Refugee women in the offside

Greece encampment policy and services takeover lead to isolation and deny protection

21 Feb: Registration of asylum applications in the new mainland RIC in Greece

Observations on access to the asylum procedure in the Attica region

23 Dec: Refugees in Greece experience third month of humanitarian crisis and hunger

Despite constant appeals from humanitarian organisations and dozens of media reports regarding the economic impasse faced by thousands of refugees and asylum seekers in Greece in recent months, the problem has not been solved.

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…

04 Oct: Winter threat looms over the forgotten refugees in Derveni camp

Despite repeated promises by the Migration Policy Minister, Giannis Mouzalas, Derveni (Alexil) camp has not been closed in spring 2017[i]….