Greece

ABU DHABI, 3rd January, 2019 (WAM) -- H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, has ordered the launch of a winter aid programme for Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Greece, Egypt and other countries, costing AED15 million, which will benefit a million refugees.

Sheikh Hamdan also directed the participation of ERC’s volunteers from various medical, ambulatory, relief and logistical specialisations in the programme’s implementation.

The Open Society Foundations, founded by George Soros, are one of the world’s largest private funders of groups that support human rights, democracy and accountability—with an annual budget of over $1 billion. Just under 10 percent of our funding goes to Europe.

The majority of this funding is directed towards supporting human rights and democratic participation in East and Central Europe and the Balkans. Open Society is also the largest private funder of efforts to support Europe’s Roma communities.

Arrivals

This week, 495 people arrived on the Aegean islands, a decrease from last week’s 822 arrivals but an increase from last year’s 397 arrivals during the same period. The average daily arrivals this week equalled 71, compared to 117 in the previous week.

Population on the Islands

Overview

By the end of December 2018, UNHCR had created 27,088 places in the accommodation scheme as part of the ESTIA programme. These were in 4,554 apartments and 22 buildings, in 14 cities and 7 islands across Greece.

According to available data from national authorities and IOM offices, a total of 133,489 migrants and refugees arrived in Europe between January and November 2018, 25 per cent decrease compared to the 178,232 reported in the same period 2017. 30,951 migrants and refugees were registered on entry and exit in Bosnia and Herzegovina (23,271), Albania (3,280) and Montenegro (4,400) in 2018, fourteen times more than the 2,199 registered in the same period last year.

According to the available data from national authorities and IOM offices, a total of 122,947 migrants and refugees arrived in Europe between January and October 2018. Estimated 81 per cent of migrants and refugees arrived by sea (99,174). A total of 27,972 migrants and refugees were registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania since the beginning of 2018, thirteen times more than the 2,199 reported in the same period last year and a ten times increase compared to the 2,725 registered in the whole of 2017.

According to the latest available figures from the Turkish Directorate General for Migration Management (DGMM) currently there are more than 3,9 million foreign nationals present in Turkish territory seeking international protection. Most of them are Syrians (3,607,563 individuals) who are granted temporary protection (TP) status. In November, more than 17,000 irregular border crossings on entry and exit from the country were recorded, 18 per cent decrease compared to 20,865 registered in October 2018.

As winter bites, UNHCR helps the Greek government move vulnerable asylum-seekers from reception centres on the Aegean Islands to shelter on the mainland.

By Anthi Pazianou

LESVOS, Greece – Under a light drizzle, families from various war-torn countries stack duffel bags and battered cases holding all their possessions at the entrance to the Moria Reception and Identification Centre (RIC) on the Greek island of Lesvos.

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund / Internal Security Fund / Emergency Assistance

1. INTRODUCTION

Brussels, 20 December 2018

This week, the European Commission has made available an additional €305 million in emergency assistance to support migration and border management in Greece, Italy, Cyprus and Croatia.

The funding will support efforts to increase reception capacity, protect victims of human trafficking and strengthen border surveillance and management capacity.

Sea and land arrivals decreased by half this month, to 2,100 and 750 respectively. This, along with the accelerated transfers and the establishment of additional shelter options on the mainland succeeded in bringing the population in Chios’ reception centre down to capacity.

The situation remained dire in Samos where the reception centre hosts six times its capacity and the rain aggravates further living conditions.

Arrivals

This week, 822 people arrived on the Aegean islands, an increase from last week’s 598 arrivals and from last year’s 441 arrivals during the same period.
The average daily arrivals this week equalled 117, compared to 85 in the previous week.

Population on the Islands

Overview

In November, 60,983 eligible refugees and asylum-seekers (29,428 families) received cash assistance in Greece, in 104 locations.

Foreword

For most of us, a safe and secure home is at the centre of our lives. It is the place where we eat, sleep, study, raise a family, socialize and take sanctuary. For many people, it is also their most significant financial asset. We work all our lives for it, and continuously invest time, money and energy to improve it.

Despite a significant drop in refugee and migrant arrivals, children still face excessive police violence at the EU's borders, and find it increasingly hard to access asylum or reunite with their parents.

Refugee and migrant arrivals in Europe have tested the ability of countries to manage migration flows while ensuring the full respect of fundamental rights and international obligations. While challenges with rescue operations during dangerous sea arrivals are well known, the attitude and behaviour of border guards at the land borders is not as well documented.