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Greece + 15 more

UNHCR Regional Bureau Europe: Weekly Report (Updated September 15, 2016 6:15 PM)

Attachments

Key Figures
Mediterranean
298,099
arrivals by sea in 2016*
3,210
dead/missing in 2016*

Trends of Sea Arrivals

Between 05 and 11 September, 879 refugees and migrants crossed the sea from Turkey to the Greek islands – a very slight decrease from the 1,052 who arrived the previous week. As of 11 September, 13,080 people remain on the islands, while there are an estimated 46,756 throughout the Greek mainland. Most arrivals in September so far have been to Chios, Lesvos and Samos. Until 11 September, 165,019 refugees and migrants have arrived by sea in Greece with 48% from the Syrian Arab Republic, 25% from Afghanistan and 15% from Iraq.
In addition, 3,152 refugees and migrants arrived by sea in Italy between 05 and 11 September – a significant decrease from the 16,673 that arrived the previous week – with no arrivals for three days during the week. Most had departed from Libya, but smaller numbers were also recorded as having departed from Turkey. As of 11 September, 124,475 refugees and migrants have arrived by sea in Italy compared to 116,149 at the end of August 2015. Between 01 January and 05 September 2016, 16,611 unaccompanied or separated children arrived in Italy by sea, compared to 12,360 in the whole of 2015 (and 13,026 in the whole of 2014). Some of the primary nationalities represented among all arrivals to Italy include Nigeria (19%), Eritrea (13%), Sudan (7%) and Gambia (7%). So far in September, 9,407 people have arrived in Italy compared to 15,922 that arrived in September 2015.
Overall, sea arrivals in Italy remain generally consistent with those registered in 2014 and 2015.

Key Developments

Situation in Greece

On 01 September, the Greek Asylum Service started the registration of asylum-seekers who were previously pre-registered through the Asylum Service’s pre-registration exercise supported by UNHCR and EASO. UNHCR’s support to this process includes country-wide transportation from sites to the Asylum Service offices and back. As of 11 September, UNHCR provided transported for over 1,300 asylum-seekers from various sites across mainland Greece including in Attica and northern Greece to the Regional Asylum Offices in Athens, Alexandroupoli and Thessaloniki. Different forms of transport have been used (UNHCR vehicles, provision of bus/train tickets and taxis), depending on the distance, accessibility activities in the country and pay tribute, on behalf of the Executive Committee Member States, to the Greek Government and its people for their generosity in receiving refugees and migrants. The ExCom Chair travelled to Chios Island, Athens and northern Greece, and met with refugees, Greek authorities, EU agencies, humanitarian actors, diplomatic missions, and donors. He also participated in an honours ceremony organized by UNHCR on 06 September for the Greek winners of the Nansen Refugee Award: the Hellenic Rescue Team, and Efi Latsoudi from the community-run Pikpa accommodation centre in Lesvos.
On the Aegean islands, UNHCR continued to support the authorities in providing protection and assistance to new arrivals, and expanding reception capacity at the Reception and Identification Centres (RIC) and other sites, which remain overcrowded. On Kos, for example,
UNHCR is further coordinating with the Army to proceed with plumbing services for the installation of two WASH blocks and four water taps at the new annex of the RIC.
Moreover, a Refugee Housing Unit was transferred from Kalymnos Island to be used for medical examinations by UNHCR’s health partner WAHA. to public transportation, and the specific needs of the asylum-seekers.
Last week, heavy rains over two days caused flooding in 12 sites in northern Greece, affecting approximately 2,000 refugees. Following a rapid response assessment by the UNHCR Technical Team, UNHCR provided almost 8,000 non-food items, including 5,700 medium thermal blankets, 1,400 raincoats, 400 plastic sheets, 30 family tents, 145 plastic tarpaulins, 60 mats and 70 wooden pallets.
All interventions were facilitated on the ground by UNHCR, IRC and DRC with assistance from volunteers from the refugee communities.
UNHCR Greece’s Education Team met with the Advisor to the General Secretary to the Ministry of Education, offering UNHCR’s support with the organization of reception classes for refugee children from urban settings, including refugee children hosted under UNHCR’s accommodation for relocation scheme. UNHCR will be able to support with education material if not provided by other partners. Transportation for refugee children hosted under UNHCR’s accommodation scheme will also be provided.
The Chair UNHCR’s Executive Committee (ExCom), Ambassador Carsten Staur, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations Office in Geneva, visited Greece from 05 to 07 September 2016. The visit’s purpose was for him to acquaint himself with UNHCR’s