The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) is helping the Greek government move thousands of vulnerable asylum seekers from Moria and other Reception and Identification Centres (RICs) on the Greek Aegean Islands to better shelters on the mainland.
Some 13,000 people have moved since early September 2018 from the islands to reception sites, hotels, and apartments on the mainland. UNHCR, with funding from the European Commission, assists in the transfers by bussing people to and from sea ports and organizing ferry tickets. Later in 2019, these activities will be handed over to the Greek authorities.
Lesvos and Samos have been given priority for the so-called decongestion operation over other islands as the RICs of Moria and Vathy are in desperate straits. More than half of all transfers have taken place from Moria.
In December alone, over 1,700 asylum seekers were transferred from Lesvos with UNHCR support, after they were authorized to move by the Greek government. Among them were Mohammed Al Ahmad, 33, from Syria’s volatile Idlib province, along with his four young children, pregnant wife and elderly mother. Their destination, together with some 200 asylum seekers, is a former resort beside northern Greece’s Lake Volvi.
Mohammed and his family faced a chilling winter in Moria Reception Centre. Winter on the Greek Aegean Islands brought flooding and freezing temperatures. With the help of UNHCR the family have been given a fresh start on mainland Greece.
UNHCR has helped to move thousands of vulnerable asylum seekers to warmer, dryer shelters.
Since transfers have accelerated, Moria’s population has fallen below 5,000 for the first time since April 2018 – but is still operating at twice its capacity. Authorities have increased their efforts to improve conditions but there are still many waiting for a safer, warmer and healthier place of refuge~UNHCR
