Accelerating refugee relocation program in Greece remains great challenge: UNHCR chief

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on Thursday called for efforts to upgrade refugee camps for the arrival of the winter, accelerate the relocation program and step up security especially for the unaccompanied minors.

Grandi made the remarks during a press conference in Athens. He is on a three-day visit to Greece to assess the humanitarian needs of migrants and refugees hosted in the country.

After visiting refugee sites and talking to Greek government officials, as well as to civil society representatives and NGOs, he commented once again on the solidarity that the recession-hit country has shown to thousands of refugees and migrants.

More than a million people crossed the Aegean Sea to Greece from Turkey since the start of 2015 and continued their journey to central and northern European countries.

After the gradual closing of borders along the Balkan route to central Europe in mid-February, a total of 54,000 refugees and migrants have been stranded in Greece.

For Grandi, it is essential as a first step to "upgrade conditions and to minimize the risk factors to which these people are exposed and will be increasingly exposed when winter comes."

Although conditions in reception centers are slowly improving, many people still live in overcrowded and inadequate sites as they await solutions for their future.

During his visit to Redestos in Northern Greece on Thursday, he noticed that the living conditions were substandard.

"I understand that they have improved, but the type of tents and accommodation provided is not adequate especially if the weather deteriorates, as it will," he stressed.

His biggest concern though and an area of great challenge, as he characterized it, is the long waiting period for the relocation and family reunification program.

"We need to step up to the promises made to Greece and to the refugees many months ago by European countries. Unfortunately, from the 66,000 places that were promised, only 3,000 have been implemented," he stressed.

Referring to incidents of violence among refugees, Grandi urged the Greek government to step up efforts on security and protection in the camps.

"There are women with their children, there are many unaccompanied minors, there are elderly people, these people are at risks especially in situations where violence often between the refugees themselves is very strong," he highlighted.

In addition, he urged the authorities to pay extra attention to the vulnerable group of minors, as they are exposed to exploitation and in particular to sexual harassment.

Regarding the refugee flows from Turkey, Grandi said that he did not expect huge increase of arrivals, but urged the Greek government to decongest the islands. Enditem