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Another year ends with sad facts

A monster of a refugee centreIt is one year since the first closed controlled centre on the island of Samos opened. Funded by the EU with 43 million euros, the centre is intended to be a model for other reception structures. Looking like a prison from the outside, with fences and x-ray scanners at the

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We grieve and stand in solidarity

ShipwrecksOur hearts are, once again, broken for those involved in the two fatal shipwrecks which occurred on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, 6th of October 2022 off the coast of Lesvos and Kythera. A total of at least 27 dead have been recovered, but people are still missing. We grieve for the lives lost

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Destroyed, fenced or soon not existing homes

Fire in Mavrovouni CampSeptember 27, there was information on social media about a fire in Mavrovouni Camp on Lesvos. A blaze set several containers on fire, luckily no one got injured. However, some people lost their belongings and paper which is a hard set back, as it is very complicated for asylum seekers and refugees

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Relocated and pushed back

Eviction of oldest camp near Athens The Eleonas camp was scheduled to be closed in mid-August. This led to clashes between residents and activists and the police. The migrants do not want to be transferred again to a new “temporary” place, and long for long-term solutions and stability. Nevertheless, by the end of the year, all

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It is always about people

Arrivals and PushbacksAccording to the Aegean boat report, 29 boats with 666 people on board arrived on the Greek islands in July 2022. And the same organisation documented 82 boats and 2183 people affected by pushbacks from the Greek side in the same period. At the same time, the Turkish government reported that during this

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The situation remains tense

A climate of fear“I am concerned about the increasing criminalisation of humanitarian assistance in Greece.” said the special rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor about Greece, on her recent visit to the Aegean Islands at the end of June. Human right defenders are facing increasing prosecutions since 2019 when acting in solidarity with refugees

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Many things raise questions

Living in AthensFor the last few years, the transfer from the Aegean islands to Athens was viewed by many as something positive, as they could finally leave the hell of the camps in the islands behind them. However, this transfer, officially organised or independently, did not have a positive effect for many. After the transfer,

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