The migrant detention camps in Greece

Greece is a destination country for many refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from the Middle East and North Africa. The majority of these refugees come from Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Eritrea

Greece currently hosts about 50,000 refugees. They may have expected that Greece would be a gateway to the rest of Europe, but most of them can expect to remain in the country, since they can no longer legally travel deeper into Europe.

Since 2021, many of the refugee arrivals have been detained in what are called Closed Controlled Access Centres, which are similar to prisons, with their inadequate food, minimal and overcrowded housing, surrounded by fencing and watched over by security personnel.

In this episode of Human Rights Magazine, Nell Pollak looks into the situation in these Closed Controlled Access Centres. 

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Transcript

Intro by Derek MacCuish:  Greece is a destination country for many refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from the Middle East and North Africa. The majority of these refugees come from Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Eritrea

Greece currently hosts about 50,000 refugees. They may have expected that Greece would be a gateway to the rest of Europe, but most of them can expect to remain in the country, since they can no longer legally travel deeper into Europe.

Since 2021, many of the refugee arrivals have been detained in what are called Closed Controlled Access Centres, which are similar to prisons, with their inadequate food, minimal and overcrowded housing, surrounded by fencing and watched over by security personnel.

In this episode of Human Rights Magazine, Nell Pollak looks into the situation in these Closed Controlled Access Centres. 

Host Nell Pollak: Today, we are delving into a critical and ongoing humanitarian issue: the refugee crisis in Greece. Specifically, we'll be focusing on the Controlled Access Centers, or CCACs, and the inhumane barriers that refugees face in seeking EU refuge. To guide us through these topics, we'll be hearing from three experts who work directly with asylum seekers in Greece. These voices include Eleni Gaitanou from Refugee Support Aegean, Younous Muhammadi from Greek Forum for Refugees, and Ella Dodd from I Have Rights. Their insights will shed light on the realities of life inside the CCACs and the broader systemic challenges that asvlum seekers face in Greece.

Let's begin by discussing the concept of de facto detention within the Controlled Access Centers

The Greek government refers to CCACs as reception centers, but in practice, they function much like detention facilities. The severe restrictions imposed on the freedom of movement for asylum seekers effectively turn these centers into places of de facto detention, contradicting the EU principle that detention should only be a measure of last resort.

Introduction to Interviewee:
 Our first expert is Ella Dodd, a legal coordinator at I Have Rights, a non-profit organization that addresses unjust and undignified asylum procedures in Greece. Ella is extremely familiar the restrictive and inhumane measures imposed on asylum seekers in these centers.

Interview Excerpt - Ella Dodd: "Despite being labeled as reception centers, CCACs impose severe restrictions on the freedom of movement of asylum seekers, effectively turning them into detention facilities. The Greek government doesn’t call it a detention because it would be illegal to detain people in this way. So they call it a restriction of freedom order. Legally they're not calling it a detention, but in every other way, it is one..."

Host: Ella's description paints a deeply disturbing picture of the illegal and informal policies that characterize these reception centers. The reality is that many asylum seekers are effectively imprisoned without due process, a policy that violates European law.

Host: The conditions Ella describes are a clear indication of how the Greek authorities are failing to provide even the most basic level of care for those seeking asylum.  The reality is that many refugees are effectively imprisoned without due process, further illustrating the dehumanizing environment within the CCACs. The deprivation of freedom is compounded by the severe lack of resources within the CCACs. Refugees often find themselves without adequate food, clothing, or medical care, which only exacerbates the suffering of those who have been forced to leave their homes.

Host: Next, we hear from Younous Muhammadi, the Director of Greek Forum for Refugees, an organization founded by refugees, for refugees. Originally from Afghanistan, Younous has been a vital advocate for asylum seekers in Greece for over two decades.

Interview Excerpt - Younous Muhammadi:"For example, in the Samos CCAC, the biggest issue is overcrowding and access to health. There is a shortage of medicine, and often children’s medicine is divided among families because there isn’t enough. This is the norm in these camps…"

Host: This lack of essential resources isn’t just about physical discomfort; it’s a matter of survival. When basic medical needs can’t be met and movement is restricted, the consequences for already vulnerable populations can be devastating.

Interview Excerpt - Ella Dodd  "What they do provide is moldy, disgusting food once a day. There is one psychologist for thousands of people and an occasional ad hoc volunteer doctor. Essential services like clothing and social support are almost entirely provided by NGOs based outside the camp..."

Host: The heavy reliance on NGOs to provide what the government does not only highlights the failure of the Greek government and the EU to meet its obligations under international law. It also underscores the dire conditions that people are forced to endure while awaiting their asylum claims to be processed.

Host: The physical barriers faced by asylum seekers are matched by the severe psychological toll of their journey and the conditions within the CCACs. Many arrive deeply traumatized by violent pushbacks and face even further stress and anxiety once inside the camps.

Interview Excerpt - Younous Muhammadi: "People are affected psychologically most of the time, especially in closed centers. We have cases where people develop permanent psychological problems because of the conditions. Many continue to suffer even after leaving Greece…"

Host: Younous' observations make it clear that the psychological impact of living in the CCACs is profound, often leaving long-lasting impacts on mental health. But this is only part of the picture. The trauma begins even earlier, as asylum seekers face violent pushbacks at the borders before they ever set foot in а ССАС

Interview Excerpt - Ella Dodd: "Pushbacks are not just illegal; they are violent. People arrive at these centers already traumatized, and then they are detained, their phones are taken, and they are surveyed. This environment of constant fear is part of a broader infrastructure of control…"

Host: Ella and Younous’  accounts highlights the continuous cycle of trauma that asylum seekers endure—from the moment they attempt to enter European borders to their prolonged detention in the CCACs. This relentless fear and anxiety have severe implications for their long-term mental health.

Host: Women and unaccompanied minors are among the most vulnerable populations within the CCACs. The lack of adequate protection and support for these groups exposes them to significant risks and exacerbates their trauma.

Host: Now, let’s hear from Eirini Gaitanou, a government coordinator at RSA, an organization dedicated to defending the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Greece. Eleni has been closely monitoring the situation in the camps, particularly the treatment of vulnerable groups.

Interview Excerpt - Eleni Gaitanou: 
 "We have seen issues in different parts of the vulnerability process. Many camps lack doctors to perform necessary assessments, and vulnerable groups, particularly women and unaccompanied minors, are often not provided with the protection they need..."

Host: The absence of proper facilities and care for these vulnerable groups is alarming. It speaks to a broader failure in the system that is supposed to offer protection and support to those who need it most.

Interview Excerpt - Ella Dodd: 
 "For example, we were working with a woman earlier this year who was required to share a bed with an unrelated man in the CCAC. This is just one example of the level of disregard for the particular vulnerabilities of women in these facilities..."

Host: These conditions not only violate basic human rights but also further entrench the trauma experienced by these vulnerable populations. The lack of gender-sensitive policies and facilities in these camps is a glaring oversight that urgently needs addressing.

Host: One of the underlying issues in the treatment of refugees in Greece is the systemic discrimination based on nationality. This postcolonial mindset results in a double standard where some refugees receive better treatment and opportunities than others.

Interview Excerpt - Younous Muhammadi:"What was done for Ukrainian refugees was the best. But the question is why they don’t do it for others? It’s a matter of political interest rather than human values, and it creates a system of discrimination that is deeply rooted in European history…"

Host: The disparities in treatment are not just coincidental; they are part of a larger narrative of exclusion and control that is rooted in historical and racial biases.

Interview Excerpt - Eleni Gaitanou: 
 "Since the third country concept has been applied internally in Greece, we have seen a policy where asylum claims are not examined individually but based on nationality. This approach violates the fundamental principle of treating each asylum claim on its own merits."

Host: Eleni’s insight underscores the importance of addressing these systemic issues. The current policies reflect a prioritization of security and convenience over human rights and dignity.

Host: The refugee crisis in Greece is not just a story of systemic failures and deep-rooted discrimination. It is a story of innocent people trying to forge new lives for themselves, yet being treated in the most cruel and inhumane way, facing barrier after barrier.   From the harsh conditions in the CCACs to the lack of integration policies, the current approach prioritizes control and exclusion over humanity and compassion. The shared knowledge of those directly involved reminds us of the urgent need for change, and to remember that this is not simply a matter of policy, but of human rights.

Cover photo: From the report of the OSCE Migration Committee visit to Samos, Zervou CCAC, 22 March 2022. CC 2.0 usage licence.