{"id":27216,"date":"2026-07-15T18:39:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T15:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/?p=27216"},"modified":"2026-07-16T11:10:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T08:10:20","slug":"crete-gavdos-8552-refugee-arrivals-in-the-first-half-of-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/crete-gavdos-8552-refugee-arrivals-in-the-first-half-of-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Crete &#8211; Gavdos: 8,552 refugee arrivals in the first half of 2026 \u2013 The issue of safe accommodation remains unresolved"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"27216\" class=\"elementor elementor-27216 elementor-27187\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0f43cc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c0f43cc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-858c43f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"858c43f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Crete - Gavdos: 8,552 refugee arrivals in the first half of 2026 \u2013 The issue of safe accommodation remains unresolved\n<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e753249 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e753249\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"ex\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Arrival statistics for the first half of 2026, the absence of suitable reception facilities, rising xenophobia, deterrence policies in cooperation with Libya, and the criminalisation of refugees<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ed848c elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2ed848c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2_Gavdos_source_50outofmany.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"2_Gavdos_source_50outofmany\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MjcyMTcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9yc2FlZ2Vhbi5vcmdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMjZcLzA3XC8yX0dhdmRvc19zb3VyY2VfNTBvdXRvZm1hbnkuanBnIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2_Gavdos_source_50outofmany-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-27217\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2_Gavdos_source_50outofmany-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2_Gavdos_source_50outofmany-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2_Gavdos_source_50outofmany-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2_Gavdos_source_50outofmany-400x533.jpg 400w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2_Gavdos_source_50outofmany.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Gavdos, source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/50outofmany\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">50 out of Many<\/a><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bfc36f3 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"bfc36f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:&quot;#ex, #ex2&quot;,&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;,&quot;h4&quot;,&quot;h5&quot;,&quot;h6&quot;],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;numbers&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tContents\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__bfc36f3\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__bfc36f3\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__bfc36f3\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de01f37 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"de01f37\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29c0842 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"29c0842\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac2280f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac2280f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Introduction<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7236ba9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7236ba9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the first half of 2026, arrivals of refugees and asylum seekers in Crete and Gavdos reached 8,552, continuing the rapid increase recorded over the past two years. In mid-June, the leadership of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cretalive.gr\/kriti\/th-pleyris-apo-ta-hania-basiki-pyli-gia-metanastes-i-kriti-ypodeigmatiki-i-diaheirisi-stin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">admitted<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that Crete has become the main gateway into Greece, with around 70% of arrivals now <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cretaone.gr\/pleyris-gia-domi-metanaston-stin-kriti-an-den-yparxei-lysi-den-apokleietai-na-kinithoyme-monomeros\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">heading<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> there. Despite this admission, improvements to the island&#8217;s makeshift infrastructure remain minimal and limited to self-evident interventions, such as the installation of beds at the temporary facility in Agyia, Chania. By the end of June, the creation of an equivalent facility in Heraklion remained completely deadlocked, owing to strong opposition from residents and local stakeholders. Living conditions in the sites hosting new arrivals remain precarious. Xenophobic rhetoric used by the government in recent years has now been adopted by a significant section of local society, while the business community foregrounds the economic damage it expects a facility to cause, disregarding the humanitarian problem that has arisen.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond living conditions, the half-year was also marked by further fatal incidents along the sea route to Crete and Gavdos, by the transfer of hundreds of people to reception facilities in the Eastern Aegean, which triggered strong reactions from local authorities, by intensifying deterrence policies carried out in cooperation with Libyan authorities, and by the criminalisation of refugees, ongoing arrests and prolonged administrative detention under conditions that violate fundamental rights.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, no increase in arrivals could ever justify policies that violate fundamental rights. In this case, moreover, the figure of 8,552 arrivals in Crete over the first half of the year is far from unprecedented: total arrivals in Greece in 2025 stood at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/asylum-procedure-and-reception-statistics-in-greece-in-2025\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">52,180<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, already down by around 16% on 2024 (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/asylum-procedure-statistics-in-greece-2024\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">62,053<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Nevertheless, in July 2025 the Greek government imposed a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/suspension-of-asylum-in-greece-rights-vilations\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">suspension of the right to asylum<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (14 July-14 October), specifically for arrivals via North Africa in Crete and Gavdos; a measure that amounted to a flagrant violation of fundamental rules of domestic, European and international law, and which led to around 2,000 people being held in prolonged and arbitrary detention. Policies of this kind serve, above all, to sow moral panic, fuel xenophobia and violate rights, entirely out of step with the actual data, which point to no \u201ccrisis\u201d of comparable scale.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-231a5e4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"231a5e4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e735bac elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e735bac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i>RSA systematically monitors developments in Crete and Gavdos, and publishes updated data every six months on arrivals, reception conditions, and the challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers there. Our most recent related publications are available here:<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/crete-2025-fourfold-increase-in-refugee-arrivals-absence-of-state-planning\/\"> <i>Crete 2025: A fourfold increase in refugee arrivals and absence of state planning<\/i><\/a><i> and<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/crete-gavdos-7336-refugee-arrivals-h1-2025\/\"> <i>Crete \u2013 Gavdos: 7,336 refugee arrivals in the first half of 2025, lack of management plan<\/i><\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abd8640 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"abd8640\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d036a36 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d036a36\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1dd5c46 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1dd5c46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Arrival data for the first half of 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-615e2c9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"615e2c9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef503e7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ef503e7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8df3835 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8df3835\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For this publication, <\/span><b>we submitted a request to the Hellenic Coast Guard for arrival data for Crete and Gavdos covering the period from 1 January to 30 June 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (total numbers, nationalities, gender and age, including minors).<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-459fdcd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"459fdcd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\">According to the data provided by the Coast Guard, arrivals for this period totalled<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65ceb0c elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"65ceb0c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"8552\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-delimiter=\",\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8cb0dc4 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8cb0dc4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\">people<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-810d83d elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"810d83d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-title\">in<\/div>\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"198\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-delimiter=\".\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d3fe76b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d3fe76b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>incidents.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27ba362 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"27ba362\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a45935e elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a45935e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The majority arrived in Heraklion (3,850), followed by Chania (2,859), Ierapetra (928) and Rethymno (896), while the figures also include one incident in Kalamata (19 people), as it was recorded in the sea area 68 nautical miles south-west of Cape Tainaron, with the crossing having started from the Libyan coast. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be7819a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"be7819a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d214699 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"d214699\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-chart\" data-src=\"visualisation\/29671612\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><noscript><img src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/29671612\/thumbnail\" width=\"100%\" alt=\"chart visualization\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45e8338 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"45e8338\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-chart\" data-src=\"visualisation\/29671820\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><noscript><img src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/29671820\/thumbnail\" width=\"100%\" alt=\"chart visualization\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa9295e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"aa9295e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db8cc49 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"db8cc49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Most people came from Bangladesh (3,536), Sudan (3,159), Egypt (1,049), South Sudan (346) and Eritrea (135), among other countries. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d2ef0e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9d2ef0e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0759806 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"0759806\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-hierarchy\" data-src=\"visualisation\/29671887\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><noscript><img src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/29671887\/thumbnail\" width=\"100%\" alt=\"hierarchy visualization\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7037eb elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"e7037eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-table\" data-src=\"visualisation\/29671964\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><noscript><img src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/29671964\/thumbnail\" width=\"100%\" alt=\"table visualization\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26054eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"26054eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-map\" data-src=\"visualisation\/29671998\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><noscript><img src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/29671998\/thumbnail\" width=\"100%\" alt=\"map visualization\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dbbfa22 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dbbfa22\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7e1b47 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d7e1b47\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0The number of minors arriving in Crete and Gavdos during this period is particularly high (780), coming mainly from Egypt (362), Sudan (182), Bangladesh (113) and South Sudan (58), among others.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3816b9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c3816b9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e51a9e elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"3e51a9e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-chart\" data-src=\"visualisation\/29672031\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><noscript><img src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/29672031\/thumbnail\" width=\"100%\" alt=\"chart visualization\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a4d068 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"2a4d068\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-table\" data-src=\"visualisation\/29672066\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><noscript><img src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/29672066\/thumbnail\" width=\"100%\" alt=\"table visualization\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f26b09a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f26b09a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among the newly-arrived people are frequently women, infants, and survivors of violence and torture. As Manolis Papadakis, head of the Ierapetra Regional Department of the Hellenic Red Cross, told us in an interview: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><\/i><b><i>There have been newly-arrived people with marks from beatings, specifically from whips and batons<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which the Red Cross doctor confirmed. There are also cases of hypothermia in winter, as well as dehydration among both adults and infants, while among the skin conditions recorded are burns, when people on the boats sit close to the fuel tanks.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first half of 2026 again saw incidents involving <\/span><b>shipwrecks with multiple fatalities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as well as deaths resulting from the dangerous conditions of the journey itself. At the same time, there are missing people being desperately searched for by their families, who cannot be linked to any specific recorded shipwreck. In February 2026, a<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ertnews.gr\/perifereiakoi-stathmoi\/iraklio\/irakleio-treis-oi-nekroi-metanastes-kai-25-agnooumenoi-sto-nayagio-ton-kalon-limenon-synexizontai-oi-ereynes-gia-ton-entopismo-epizonton\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maritime incident<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> off Kalous Limenes left three people dead and 25 missing. In March, survivors of a shipwreck off Ierapetra <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.in.gr\/2026\/03\/28\/greece\/tragodia-22-nekrous-metanastes-anoixta-tis-ierapetras-petaksan-tis-sorous-sti-thalassa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reported<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that twenty-two people had lost their lives due to the hardships of the journey, and that, on the orders of the smugglers, their bodies were thrown into the sea. In June, a man is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patris.gr\/kriti\/thriler-sto-notio-kritiko-petaxan-omoethni-tous-sti-thalassa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reported<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to have died after an incident that occurred at sea, ending up in the water. That same month, a 30-year-old man from Bangladesh, who had been <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kriti360.gr\/kriti-nekros-30chronos-metanastis-pou-eiche-diasothei-meta-apo-megali-epicheirisi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hospitalised<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at Chania Hospital following a rescue operation, ultimately died. Below a video of a rescue operation:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c30a8a elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"1c30a8a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=sK6ho5fenbc&quot;,&quot;yt_privacy&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ec1ab4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8ec1ab4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16734ba e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"16734ba\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-337621e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"337621e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Absence of state planning and violations of the law on reception and identification<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec2941a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ec2941a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the continuing rise in arrivals in Crete, the state has still, two years on, failed to <\/span><b>establish organised and adequate reception and accommodation facilities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The creation of such facilities continues to be discussed and postponed, with repeated <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/crete-gavdos-7336-refugee-arrivals-h1-2025\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">commitments<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the leadership of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum that have not been implemented, and without the necessary social consensus.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This half-year in <\/span><b>Chania<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the former exhibition centre in Agyia was converted into a temporary facility able to operate as a Regional Reception and Identification Service. The property lease agreement was <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/agonaskritis.gr\/%CF%87%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%AC-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CF%83%CF%85%CF%81%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%80%CE%BB%CE%AD%CE%B3%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1-%CF%84%CF%8D%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%BD%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%BF-%CE%B7\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">signed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on 16 March 2026. The site&#8217;s legal status, however, remained unclear: in the tender for the construction of a NATO-style fence around the site (including razor wire), the Ministry initially referred to it as a \u201cfacility\u201d, before correcting this a few days later, in an official amendment, to \u201ctemporary facility\u201d. Chania Deputy Mayor Eleni Zervoudaki <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neakriti.gr\/kriti\/hania\/2169041_parembaseis-stin-agyia-konteiner-kai-krebatia-gia-anthropines-synthikes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stressed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that Agyia remains a temporary accommodation site and that the works underway in no way alter this temporary character. Chania Deputy Regional Governor Nikos Kalogeris, meanwhile, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zarpanews.gr\/enochlisi-kalogeri-gia-diloseis-pleyri-eipame-na-exypiretisoyme-me-tin-agyia-alla-dystychos-fainetai-pos-oyden-monimoteron-toy-prosorinoy-video\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stated<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in early February that a request had been made for <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201ca solution to unblock and release the property, for which the studies have already been approved, which is ready to be included for funding, and which was our only venue for exhibitions in Chania, to showcase local products.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the end of June, the Reception and Identification Service responsible for the temporary facility in Agyia had still not been fully staffed, meaning that the prompt identification of vulnerable people was not guaranteed. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe are still at a transitional stage, as administrative staff from the Ministry of Migration and Asylum have arrived, but with limited responsibilities. Initial registration is carried out by Coast Guard personnel. The Ministry has provided interpreters for three languages,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Chania Deputy Mayor for Social Policy Eleni Zervoudaki told us. The Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, during a visit to Agyia in mid-June, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cretaone.gr\/pleyris-gia-domi-metanaston-stin-kriti-an-den-yparxei-lysi-den-apokleietai-na-kinithoyme-monomeros\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stated<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that the temporary facility was operating as a model, and that registration and the separation of newly-arrived people was proceeding normally: those who do not meet the conditions for asylum are transferred to closed facilities, while those with a refugee profile are placed in the asylum procedure.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>Heraklion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the equivalent effort remains entirely deadlocked, despite the Ministry&#8217;s related commitments. To date, no site has been found for the creation of a temporary facility, as every proposal has met with strong opposition from residents and business owners, chiefly from the tourism sector. The Ministry of Migration and Asylum has<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/themakritis.gr\/epikairotita\/crete\/domi-kanonika-stoys-athanatoys\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recently announced<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that it will convert the Skouloudis warehouses in Athanatoi into a temporary accommodation site, and is pressing ahead with this choice despite residents&#8217; objections and a site inspection by the Urban Planning Authority that identified serious issues. This will be a closed-type facility under continuous guard, where residents will have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/themakritis.gr\/epikairotita\/crete\/domi-kanonika-stoys-athanatoys\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">no access to outdoor space<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and will effectively be held in detention for the duration of their stay, theoretically lasting one to three days. Meanwhile, on 16 June, an application for an interim order filed by the Heraklion Port Authority against the Heraklion Harbour Master&#8217;s Office, seeking the immediate evacuation of the old \u2018Psygeio\u2019 (Fridge), was <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neakriti.gr\/kriti\/irakleio\/2184263_paratasi-anasa-gia-metanasteytiko-stis-24-ioylioy-ta-asfalistika-metra-gia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rejected by consent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; the application for interim measures will be heard on 24 July, while the Ministry maintains that works at the Skouloudis site will have been completed by then. In a resolution passed on 23 March 2026, Heraklion Municipal Council <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neakriti.gr\/kriti\/irakleio\/2177971_metanasteytiko-megali-epiheirisi-metaforas-450-atomon-apo-irakleio-sta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stated<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that local society and local government cannot simply be informed of decisions that have already been taken, but must have a substantive say in the choice of site.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The authorities, therefore, continue to fail to implement the explicit provisions of the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kodiko.gr\/nomothesia\/document\/797068\/nomos-4939-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">law<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which require that newly-arrived people be brought into reception and identification procedures immediately upon arrival, under the responsibility of police or coast guard authorities.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53b9bc4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"53b9bc4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e97e00f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e97e00f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b58bc8c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b58bc8c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Undignified conditions at unsuitable temporary accommodation sites<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-432b641 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"432b641\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>Chania<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, at the temporary accommodation site in the former exhibition centre in Agyia, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neakriti.gr\/kriti\/hania\/2169041_parembaseis-stin-agyia-konteiner-kai-krebatia-gia-anthropines-synthikes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">works<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were carried out by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum at the end of March. Around five hundred and fifty bunks and mattresses were delivered, along with a mobile clinic and prefabricated units to house, among other things, administrative services of the Ministries of Migration and Asylum and Shipping. Plans are also underway to partition the site, install showers with hot water, and provide access to outdoor space. By the end of June, 163 people were staying at Agyia, with beds available for around 350. The mobile clinic is operating, and the Red Cross is called upon whenever needed. Chania Municipality provides food, footwear, clothing and toilets, and tries to meet any other needs that arise, according to Deputy Mayor for Social Policy Eleni Zervoudaki. According to the same source, people with a low likelihood of qualifying as refugees are transferred to facilities on the islands of the Eastern Aegean.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b538e1b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b538e1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia-xania_ertnews-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-27218\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia-xania_ertnews-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia-xania_ertnews-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia-xania_ertnews-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia-xania_ertnews-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia-xania_ertnews-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia-xania_ertnews-1250x938.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia-xania_ertnews-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia-xania_ertnews.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The temporary accommodation site in the former exhibition centre in Agyia, June 2026. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ertnews.gr\/eidiseis\/ellada\/thanos-pleyris-apo-ta-xania-syntoma-oi-anakoinoseis-gia-prosorini-domi-metanaston-sto-irakleio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ertnews<\/a><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33df3d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"33df3d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"598\" src=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia5_creta24-1024x598.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-27219\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia5_creta24-1024x598.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia5_creta24-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia5_creta24-768x448.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia5_creta24-1250x730.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia5_creta24-400x233.jpg 400w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agia5_creta24.jpg 1523w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The mobile clinic that was installed in March 2026 outside the temporary accommodation site in Agyia. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/creta24.gr\/chania-xekinisan-oi-ergasies-stin-agyia-gia-ti-nea-domi-metanaston\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">creta24.gr<\/a><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44d9da5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"44d9da5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>Rethymno<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, newly-arrived people who reached the southern part of the prefecture this half-year were<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rethnea.gr\/synechizontai-oi-metanasteftikes-roes-sti-notia-kriti-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">transferred<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the building of the old Harbour Master&#8217;s Office in the city of Rethymno. According to Deputy Mayor for Climate Change and Civil Protection Giorgos Skordilis, whom we interviewed, arrivals in the prefecture from the start of the year to early June rose by 100% compared with the same period the previous year. The site has a capacity of 90-120 people. At the old Harbour Master&#8217;s Office there is a toilet, with additional chemical toilets brought in when needed, but no shower. There are no beds, only mattresses and blankets. Food is covered by the Municipalities of Rethymno and Agios Vasileios, while Rethymno Municipality also provides personal hygiene items. Newly-arrived people usually stay there for 2-3 days before being transferred off Crete. The Red Cross provides first aid, clothing and footwear, while interpretation is handled by Rethymno Municipality&#8217;s social services department.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d2febf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6d2febf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>Heraklion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, despite being entirely unsuitable, the old \u2018Psygeio\u2019 (Fridge) at the port continues to operate as a temporary accommodation site, with capacity for 70-80 people. Newly-arrived people, among them women, children and unaccompanied minors, sleep on the floor, on cardboard boxes, blankets and thin mattresses. In early June, the number of occupants exceeded 450, meaning that dozens of people were <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neakriti.gr\/kriti\/irakleio\/2183120_irakleio-sta-oria-tis-asfyxias-proin-psygeio-sto-limani-ekatontades\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">forced<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to sleep outside the building; local media also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mJiEOlkrwsU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reported<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a risk of falling plaster. In one striking instance in early June, 43 newly-arrived people who had been brought to the port of Heraklion were forced to remain inside the bus that had transported them there, owing to a lack of available space, and were ultimately <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neakriti.gr\/kriti\/irakleio\/2183154_apo-irakleio-stin-ierapetra-kai-piso-ayrio-i-megali-anahorisi-metanaston-gia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">transferred<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to Ierapetra. To meet the resulting needs, additional chemical toilets were simply added at the entrance to the site; there is no shower, not even a single tap, resulting in even worse hygiene conditions. According to accounts, the site has no ventilation and the atmosphere is stifling. Barefoot refugees have been <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rosa.gr\/koinonia\/irakleio-kritis-xypolitoi-prosfyges-kai-metanastes-richnoun-nero-stin-asfalto-gia-na-antexoun-ta-egkavmata\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">forced<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to pour water from plastic bottles onto the asphalt to withstand the burns and manage to stand while waiting their turn outside the old \u2018Psygeio\u2019. Heraklion Municipality provides medicine and clothing on a voluntary basis; food and other responsibilities have been taken on by the Coast Guard. The Health Centre provides medical services, while the Red Cross covers first aid and helps distribute food.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-530a1ad elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"530a1ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"ex2\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- 1. The Placeholder (What users see first) -->\n<div id=\"instagram-privacy-wrapper\" style=\"background: #fcfcfc; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); height: 720px; border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid #dbebfa; margin: 0px auto 12px; min-width: 280px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; padding: 25px; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: center; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">\n  <svg height=\"40\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"40\" style=\"fill: #8e8e8e; margin-bottom: 15px;\"><path d=\"M12 2.163c3.204 0 3.584.012 4.85.07 3.252.148 4.771 1.691 4.919 4.919.058 1.265.069 1.645.069 4.849 0 3.205-.012 3.584-.069 4.849-.149 3.225-1.664 4.771-4.919 4.919-1.266.058-1.644.07-4.85.07-3.204 0-3.584-.012-4.849-.07-3.26-.149-4.771-1.699-4.919-4.92-.058-1.265-.07-1.644-.07-4.849 0-3.204.013-3.583.07-4.849.149-3.227 1.664-4.771 4.919-4.919 1.266-.057 1.645-.069 4.849-.069zM12 0C8.741 0 8.333.014 7.053.072 2.695.272.273 2.69.073 7.051.014 8.333 0 8.741 0 12c0 3.259.014 3.668.072 4.948.2 4.358 2.618 6.78 6.98 6.98 1.281.058 1.689.072 4.948.072 3.259 0 3.668-.014 4.948-.072 4.354-.2 6.782-2.618 6.979-6.98.059-1.28.073-1.689.073-4.948 0-3.259-.014-3.667-.072-4.947-.196-4.354-2.617-6.78-6.979-6.98C15.668.014 15.259 0 12 0zm0 5.838a6.162 6.162 0 100 12.324 6.162 6.162 0 000-12.324zM12 16a4 4 0 110-8 4 4 0 010 8zm6.406-11.845a1.44 1.44 0 100 2.881 1.44 1.44 0 000-2.881z\"\/><\/svg>\n  \n  <!-- The English Title -->\n  <h3 style=\"margin: 0 0 10px 0; font-size: 15px; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; max-width: 420px;\">Video: Barefoot refugees have been forced to pour water from plastic bottles onto the asphalt to withstand the burns<\/h3>\n  \n  <p style=\"margin: 0 0 15px 0; font-size: 13px; color: #666666; font-weight: 600; line-height: 18px;\">External content from Instagram<\/p>\n  <p style=\"margin: 0 0 20px 0; font-size: 12px; color: #8e8e8e; line-height: 18px; max-width: 360px;\">By loading this video, you accept Instagram's privacy policy and allow the use of tracking cookies.<\/p>\n  \n  <button onclick=\"loadInstagramEmbed()\" style=\"background-color: #0095f6; color: white; border: none; border-radius: 8px; padding: 8px 18px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; cursor: pointer; transition: background-color 0.1s ease;\">Load Video<\/button>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- 2. The Script (Injects the iframe only after click) -->\n<script>\nfunction loadInstagramEmbed() {\n  const container = document.getElementById('instagram-privacy-wrapper');\n  \n  const iframe = document.createElement('iframe');\n  iframe.className = 'instagram-media';\n  iframe.src = 'https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DZeU4ZyDn0m\/embed\/captioned\/';\n  iframe.setAttribute('allowtransparency', 'true');\n  iframe.setAttribute('allowfullscreen', 'true');\n  iframe.setAttribute('frameborder', '0');\n  iframe.setAttribute('height', '720');\n  iframe.setAttribute('scrolling', 'no');\n  \n  iframe.style.background = 'white';\n  iframe.style.maxWidth = '540px';\n  iframe.style.width = 'calc(100% - 2px)';\n  iframe.style.borderRadius = '3px';\n  iframe.style.border = '1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219)';\n  iframe.style.boxShadow = 'none';\n  iframe.style.display = 'block';\n  iframe.style.margin = '0px auto 12px';\n  iframe.style.minWidth = '280px';\n  iframe.style.padding = '0px';\n\n  container.parentNode.replaceChild(iframe, container);\n}\n<\/script>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c7051f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c7051f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"944\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u03a0\u03b1\u03bb\u03b9\u03bf-\u03a8\u03c5\u03b3\u03b5\u03af\u03bf-\u039c\u03ad\u03c3\u03b1-\u03a0\u03b7\u03b3\u03ae-\u039d\u0395\u0391-\u039a\u03a1\u0397\u03a4\u0397.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-27220\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u03a0\u03b1\u03bb\u03b9\u03bf-\u03a8\u03c5\u03b3\u03b5\u03af\u03bf-\u039c\u03ad\u03c3\u03b1-\u03a0\u03b7\u03b3\u03ae-\u039d\u0395\u0391-\u039a\u03a1\u0397\u03a4\u0397.jpg 944w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u03a0\u03b1\u03bb\u03b9\u03bf-\u03a8\u03c5\u03b3\u03b5\u03af\u03bf-\u039c\u03ad\u03c3\u03b1-\u03a0\u03b7\u03b3\u03ae-\u039d\u0395\u0391-\u039a\u03a1\u0397\u03a4\u0397-300x275.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u03a0\u03b1\u03bb\u03b9\u03bf-\u03a8\u03c5\u03b3\u03b5\u03af\u03bf-\u039c\u03ad\u03c3\u03b1-\u03a0\u03b7\u03b3\u03ae-\u039d\u0395\u0391-\u039a\u03a1\u0397\u03a4\u0397-768x703.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u03a0\u03b1\u03bb\u03b9\u03bf-\u03a8\u03c5\u03b3\u03b5\u03af\u03bf-\u039c\u03ad\u03c3\u03b1-\u03a0\u03b7\u03b3\u03ae-\u039d\u0395\u0391-\u039a\u03a1\u0397\u03a4\u0397-400x366.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 944px) 100vw, 944px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The old \u2018Psygeio\u2019 (Fridge) at Heraklion. June 2026. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neakriti.gr\/kriti\/irakleio\/2183120_irakleio-sta-oria-tis-asfyxias-proin-psygeio-sto-limani-ekatontades\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">neakriti.gr<\/a><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7da62e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7da62e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>Ierapetra<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, newly-arrived people this half-year were transferred to the old school building in Kalogeri. The site has a toilet, with additional chemical toilets brought in when needed. Ierapetra Municipality covers food, the provision of hygiene items, and the cost of transport to Heraklion. The Red Cross, beyond first aid, covers clothing and footwear needs with the help of residents and local groups, and<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hxonews.gr\/article\/manwlhs-papadakhs-ston-hxw-%C2%ABh-ierapetra-exei-ginei-pylh-eisodoy-%E2%80%93-o-erythros-stayros-einai-dipla-ston-anthrwpo%C2%BB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">provides<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> assistance in cases requiring medical assessment or transfer to hospital. The NGOs Crete for Life and A Drop in the Ocean\/Stagona also contribute supplies whenever they can.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f944d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2f944d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u0394\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc-\u03a3\u03c7\u03bf\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03bf-\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd-\u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03ad\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd-neakriti-1024x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-27221\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u0394\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc-\u03a3\u03c7\u03bf\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03bf-\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd-\u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03ad\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd-neakriti-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u0394\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc-\u03a3\u03c7\u03bf\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03bf-\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd-\u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03ad\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd-neakriti-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u0394\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc-\u03a3\u03c7\u03bf\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03bf-\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd-\u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03ad\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd-neakriti-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u0394\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc-\u03a3\u03c7\u03bf\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03bf-\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd-\u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03ad\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd-neakriti-1250x703.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u0394\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc-\u03a3\u03c7\u03bf\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03bf-\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd-\u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03ad\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd-neakriti-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u0394\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc-\u03a3\u03c7\u03bf\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03bf-\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd-\u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03ad\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd-neakriti.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Temporary accommodation at the old School building in Kalogeri, April 2026. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neakriti.gr\/kriti\/lasithi\/2172867_ierapetra-61-metanastes-se-mia-aithoysa-palioy-sholeioy-zoyme-enan-efialti\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">neakriti.gr<\/a><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9fbaeb0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9fbaeb0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-199910f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"199910f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fed0dae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fed0dae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reactions from residents, associations and business circles<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-680aa3e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"680aa3e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lack of substantive and timely information for local authorities and the local society, the lack of transparency, and xenophobic public discourse are intensifying reactions and leading to <\/span><b>deadlock <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at every level. In <\/span><b>Chania<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, staff working in Regional Unit services co-located at the Agyia complex <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patris.gr\/kriti\/foto-protes-eikones-apo-ti-domi-metanaston-pou-stinetai-sta-xania-emas-de-mas-rotise-kaneis-antidroun-oi-ergazomenoi-tou-ekthesiakou-tis-agiias\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">expressed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, through their association, strong objections to the works carried out at the former exhibition centre last March. Among other things, they stated that they had received no meaningful information about the plans being pursued for the premises, and that staff at the service remain entirely \u201cin the dark\u201d as to the impact such a decision will have on their working conditions and safety.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>Heraklion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reactions from residents and business owners have been intense: there have been protests, road blockades, and interventions by residents at municipal and regional council meetings.<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cThey give no information, either to the Municipality or to residents, and that is why there is this tension; the specifications have not been made public, so that residents and stakeholders know what to propose,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Deputy Mayor for Social Welfare Stiliani Archontaki told us. In late June, the Association of Venizeleio Hospital Employees <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cretaone.gr\/kataggelies-ergazomenon-venizeleioy-gia-ti-dimioyrgia-kleistis-domis-metanaston-stin-kriti\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">expressed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> its opposition to the creation of a closed facility for newly-arrived people in Crete and to policies confining refugees, noting, among other things, that they were witnessing<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201can organised attempt to turn justified social discontent into fear, racism and bigotry.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charis K. Lagoudakis, a member of the Board of the Heraklion Bar Association, told us in our communication with him: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe refugee and migration issue continues, in 2026 too, to be one of the most significant challenges facing Crete, highlighting long-standing gaps in state planning for the reception and management of increased arrivals. Ensuring dignified temporary accommodation, access to healthcare services and to international protection procedures, and full compliance with the obligations arising from the Constitution and from EU and international law, are all necessary conditions for effective, human-centred management of the issue. Addressing increased refugee and migration flows requires coordinated action by the State and the competent authorities, with respect for human dignity and for the fundamental principles of the rule of law, while public debate must be conducted with sobriety, substantiation and responsibility, far removed from xenophobic and racist views that do not contribute to a genuine response to the phenomenon.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ffeaec e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7ffeaec\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31b18cc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"31b18cc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e2c093 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2e2c093\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Rising xenophobia<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83e6f72 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"83e6f72\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Xenophobic sentiment in Crete intensified markedly this half-year, both through <\/span><b>mobilisation on social media and incidents of violence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and through the <\/span><b>public rhetoric of political figures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In mid-June, identical posters began circulating on social media calling for a demonstration on 20 June in Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion, under the slogan \u201cCretans, wake up! Crete cannot take any more!\u201d. In Chania, the demonstration ultimately did not take place, while in Heraklion only a handful of people responded to the call; by contrast, anti-fascist rallies were held in Heraklion a day earlier and in Chania on the same day. The day before the planned demonstration, the offices of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ertnews.gr\/perifereiakoi-stathmoi\/chania\/vandalismoi-sta-grafeia-tou-syriza-xanion-kai-synthimata-misous-sto-stratopedo-markopoulou-sygkentrosi-kata-ton-metanaston\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SYRIZA<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Progressive Alliance and of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/agonaskritis.gr\/%CE%B2%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B4%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CE%BF%CE%AF-%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1-%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BD%CE%AD%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%B1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Left<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Chania were vandalised, and nationalist material targeting refugees was distributed, while xenophobic slogans were found in various parts of the city, attributed to a newly emerged group calling itself \u201cDefend Chania\u201d, which signs its material with the image of a machine gun.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In contrast to this climate, the Heraklion Bar Association, in a related <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dsh.gr\/anakoinosi-schetika-me-tis-exelixeis-sto-prosfygiko-kai-metanastevtiko-zitima\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">statement<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, stressed the need for public debate to be conducted with sobriety and free of xenophobic and racist views.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the same period, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvopen.gr\/watch\/271340\/oraellados102f062f26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">xenophobic rhetoric<\/a> of political figures<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also escalated.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9f9d44 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a9f9d44\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db8c10c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"db8c10c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-501895b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"501895b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Transfers to Eastern Aegean islands and reactions from local authorities<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-117cb63 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"117cb63\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In recent months, large numbers of newly-arrived people have been transferred from Crete to the Dodecanese. In mid-May, around 450 people were <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neakriti.gr\/kriti\/irakleio\/2177971_metanasteytiko-megali-epiheirisi-metaforas-450-atomon-apo-irakleio-sta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">transferred<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Heraklion to Kos, escorted by police and coast guard officers. Further <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ertnews.gr\/perifereia\/stin-ko-kai-sti-lero-tha-metaferthoun-apo-tin-kriti-81-metanastes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">transfers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to Kos and Leros followed, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skyrodos.gr\/%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BD-%CF%80%CE%B5%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BA%CF%8C%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%82-%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%82\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">provoking<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> discontent among stakeholders and residents in Kos.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In early June, around 300 refugees, including young children and unaccompanied minors, were transferred from Crete to the Closed Facility on Samos by Coast Guard vessel. This transfer triggered <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ertnews.gr\/perifereia\/sti-domi-tis-samou-metaferthikan-300-metanastes-apo-tin-kriti-antidraseis-apo-tis-topikes-arxes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">strong reactions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from local authorities. West Samos Mayor Themistoklis Papatheofanous, in a letter to the Minister of Migration and Asylum using xenophobic language, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/samos24.gr\/papatheofanous-epistoli-plevri-metanastes-kriti\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">called<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cthe proposals of the competent Services on managing the migrants <\/span><\/i><b><i>invading <\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crete to be reconsidered, concealing as they do the shortcomings in management, the lack of action and the poor organisation of the distribution of refugee accommodation there.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Minister of Migration and Asylum has <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ertnews.gr\/eidiseis\/ellada\/thanos-pleyris-apo-ta-xania-syntoma-oi-anakoinoseis-gia-prosorini-domi-metanaston-sto-irakleio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">announced<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that, through a tender to select a contracted operator, a private vessel with a capacity of up to 500 passengers will be chartered to transfer refugees from Chania to mainland Greece 2-3 times a week; an equivalent vessel is planned for Heraklion.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0de9d1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f0de9d1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67aad8d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"67aad8d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe45cb7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fe45cb7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Deterrence and cooperation with the eastern Libyan regime<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32c7ab8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"32c7ab8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the end of April, Minister of Migration and Asylum Thanos Plevris<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/creta24.gr\/tha-kanoyme-diavoyleysi-me-tin-topiki-koinonia-eipe-o-pleyris-gia-tin-domi-metanaston-sto-irakleio-pote-tha-einai-etoimi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stated<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that, owing to \u201cgood conditions\u201d, <\/span><b>far more flows had been deterred<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> than had actually arrived during that period. At the end of May, he<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neakriti.gr\/kriti\/irakleio\/2180113_anoigei-ti-bentalia-o-alexis-kalokairinos-gia-ti-domi-metanaston-giati-mono\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stated<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201caround 500,000 migrants are in Libya intending to cross into Europe\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, noting that in the first fortnight of the month alone around 1,200 arrivals and <\/span><b>530 cases of deterrence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> had been recorded, without clarifying how these cases of deterrence were carried out. Around the same time, he<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vouliwatch.gr\/news\/article\/th.pleyris-erhontai-poly-sklira-metra-gia-to-metanasteytiko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stated<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that, should arrivals increase, measures even harsher than the simple suspension of asylum would be introduced.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In early June, Thanos Plevris<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cretaone.gr\/pleyris-gia-domi-metanaston-stin-kriti-an-den-yparxei-lysi-den-apokleietai-na-kinithoyme-monomeros\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stated<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cUnlike the Aegean, in the Libyan Sea, once a boat is in open waters, deterrence is no longer possible. It has to happen at the point of departure, carried out by the Libyan authorities.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This strategy is also reflected operationally. According to Giorgos Sfakianakis, president of the Union of Coast Guard Personnel of Eastern Crete, a new strategy for migration in Crete is being <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.radio984.gr\/post\/g-sfakianakis-nea-stratigiki-gia-to-metanasteftiko-stin-kriti\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">applied<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, involving <\/span><b>deterrence before departure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, within a framework of closer cooperation between the Greek government and the Libyan and Egyptian authorities. According to the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neakriti.gr\/kriti\/2187881_metanasteytiko-stis-8500-oi-afixeis-apo-tis-arhes-toy-etoys-stin-kriti-ihitiko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">same source<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>the Libyan Coast Guard has already been reinforced with two vessels<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and a <\/span><b>liaison officer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the Hellenic Coast Guard is now stationed at the <\/span><b>Greek Consulate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [in Benghazi]. According to<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naftemporiki.gr\/politics\/2116947\/i-eikona-ton-metanasteytikon-roon-megali-apoklimakosi-sto-aigaio-epimoni-stin-kriti\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">media reports<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the area is additionally covered by assets of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), comprising three aircraft and one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), with the arrival of a further aircraft expected imminently, ensuring 24-hour operational coverage in combination with national and European assets.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a44bce8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a44bce8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dba91bf e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dba91bf\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fab13e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fab13e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Criminalisation of refugees and detention in unacceptable conditions<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ad5e32 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ad5e32\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Arrests <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on charges of smuggling <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/crete-2025-fourfold-increase-in-refugee-arrivals-absence-of-state-planning\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">continue<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> unabated, including even unaccompanied minors; in one case, a minor barely in his teens: in early June, a 13-year-old Sudanese national was <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neakriti.gr\/kriti\/hania\/2182960_synelifthi-13hronos-gia-toys-42-metanastes-poy-eftasan-stin-gaydo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">arrested<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by coast guard authorities on Gavdos, following the arrival of 42 people found aboard a boat off the island. According to data provided by the Hellenic Coast Guard to Refugee Support Aegean (RSA), 221 arrests were made in the first half of 2026; a particularly high figure, with the majority of those arrested coming from Sudan (45) and South Sudan (151), countries torn apart by civil war.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-241faff elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"241faff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-table\" data-src=\"visualisation\/29671914\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><noscript><img src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/29671914\/thumbnail\" width=\"100%\" alt=\"table visualization\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0505bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a0505bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, an unknown number of people remain in <\/span><b>administrative detention at police holding cells in Heraklion, in some cases for months<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, in violation of every basic human right. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPeople without papers remain in this form of closed detention, as do people who have been acquitted of a criminal charge but are held in administrative detention; they don&#8217;t even separate criminal detainees from administrative ones,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a member of Thalassa of Solidarity told us. On 18 June, the Heraklion Bar Association issued a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dsh.gr\/anakoinosi-dsi-gia-kratitiria\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">statement<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> highlighting the unacceptable conditions at the Heraklion holding cells and stressing the need for an on-site inspection.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the Chania holding cells in March, a 30-year-old Egyptian man <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/14gV4AiWi72\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">attempted<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to take his own life after being returned to detention pending the enforcement of his deportation, having believed he was about to be released. According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/story.php?story_fbid=1335533018726296&amp;id=100068088326757&amp;rdid=bbAXB5jXZNvV5AKH#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chania Social Centre &#8211; Migrants&#8217; Centre<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the public prosecutor stated that there was no possibility of legal intervention to secure his release, as this would only be possible once his deportation had been carried out.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac9406f elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"ac9406f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09eadad e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"09eadad\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-731ec3e elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"731ec3e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Without a stable and organised solution for reception and accommodation, the situation in Crete and Gavdos remains, to a large extent, precarious and dangerous<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, owing to the conditions on the island described in this text (lack of basic infrastructure, xenophobic incidents, arbitrary detention, among others), while the living conditions of newly-arrived people remain undignified and in violation of their fundamental rights. <\/span><b>RSA (Refugee Support Aegean) once again calls on the competent authorities to guarantee<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>rescue <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of people in danger at Greece&#8217;s maritime borders and within the Greek Search and Rescue (SAR) region, through the provision of adequate means.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>implementation of existing legislation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on reception and identification procedures under <\/span><b>dignified conditions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Adequate healthcare and interpretation services<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An <\/span><b>end to the criminalisation of refugees<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and to arbitrary, prolonged administrative <\/span><b>detention<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f90d72 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4f90d72\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-965a890 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"965a890\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='root-data-givewp-embed' data-form-locale='en_US' data-form-url='https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/?post_type=give_forms&amp;p=24601' data-form-view-url='https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/?givewp-route=donation-form-view&amp;form-id=24601' data-src='https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/?givewp-route=donation-form-view&amp;form-id=24601' data-givewp-embed-id='give-form-shortcode-1' data-form-format='' data-open-form-button='Donate now' style='--givewp-primary-color: #465070; --givewp-secondary-color: #af6458;'><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The issue of safe accommodation remains unresolved<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":27235,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[141,243,8,5,137],"tags":[348,339,18,340],"class_list":{"0":"post-27216","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-detention-and-reception-conditions","8":"category-facts-and-figures","9":"category-news-2","10":"category-publications","11":"category-topics","12":"tag-348","13":"tag-crete","14":"tag-featured","15":"tag-gavdos-2"},"menu_order":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27216","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27216"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27216\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27321,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27216\/revisions\/27321"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}