Where are most refugees in Greece from?
37,812 asylum applications by refugees were received in 2020 in Greece – according to UNHCR. Most of them came from Afghanistan, Syria and from Pakistan. A total of 49,179 decisions have been made on initial applications.
How many refugees arrive in Greece?
Refugee population in Greece: About 120,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Greece, of whom about 20,000 are on the islands (Lesvos, Samos, Chios) and 100,000 on the mainland.
Where do refugees go in Greece?
Most individuals reach Greece from Turkey, risking their lives in dangerous sea crossings to Greek islands in the northern Aegean Sea. Although the number of arrivals has fallen significantly since the height of Europe’s so-called “refugee crisis,” thousands of people continue to arrive in Greece.
Why are there so many refugees in Greece?
Greek authorities believe that 90% of illegal immigrants in the EU enter through Greece, many fleeing because of unrest and poverty in the Middle East and Africa.
What happens to asylum seekers in Greece?
As soon as you have your asylum seeker card, you have certain rights and obligations: You can legally live in Greece until the asylum service has made a final decision on your asylum case. This means you cannot be returned to another country against your will, while you wait for the decision. Children can go to school.
Are human rights respected in Greece?
The country is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the United Nations Convention Against Torture. The Greek constitution also guarantees fundamental human rights to all Greek citizens.
Can asylum seekers in Greece work?
As soon as you have your asylum seeker card, you have certain rights and obligations: You can legally live in Greece until the asylum service has made a final decision on your asylum case. While you are pre-registered you do NOT have the right to work in Greece.
Does Greece welcome refugees?
Greece currently hosts approximately 50,000 refugees, most of whom will remain in the country. The International Rescue Committee ensures these refugees understand their rights and provides them with job training, and psychosocial support so that they can rebuild their lives.
What rights do refugees have in Greece?
You have the right to access basic assistance including shelter, food, legal, medical and psychosocial assistance from UNHCR and other organizations. You are obliged to cooperate fully with the Greek authorities.
What are the current issues in Greece?
The Greek populace has suffered painful budget cuts, tax increases, high unemployment, and shrunken living standards and social services. Many still fear their future. During the crisis, the Greek government and its European and International Monetary Fund (IMF) creditors made tough and even courageous decisions.
Are refugees allowed to work in Greece?
If you are a recognised refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary protection and you hold a valid residence permit, you have access under the same conditions as Greek nationals to: salaried employment; provision of services or work; exercise an independent economic activity.
Who are the refugees and asylum seekers in Greece?
At the end of 2019, Greece hosted over 186,000 refugees and asylum-seekers. This included over 5000 unaccompanied children. Most persons of concern were coming from Afghanistan, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iran.
Are there any refugee reception centers in Greece?
Astonishingly, only two fully-equipped refugee first-reception centers exist in Greece, on the islands of Lesbos and Samos. There, refugees encounter costly cumbersome processing procedures conducted against the backdrop of the security threat posed by their high numbers. Refugees must have their passports scanned and need to be fingerprinted.
Where are the safe zones for refugees in Greece?
The IRC has created Safe Zones for unaccompanied and separated children in two refugees camps on the Greek mainland. These safe zones provide children with a safe alternative to police detention until they are reunified with family or placed in shelters or foster care.
How big is the Moria refugee camp in Greece?
Inside Moria refugee camp In Moria camp, Greece, more than 8,300 people are crammed into a space which, according to official numbers, has the capacity for 3,100. At Moria, they make their claims for asylum but the asylum process is painfully slow. Life in the camp is difficult.