Feature: Upgraded refugee hosting centers inaugurated on mainland, as tension on Greek islands rises

The Greek authorities on Tuesday inaugurated an upgraded hosting center at Ritsona, a suburb of Chalkida, 80 km north of Athens, pledging to step up efforts to provide more aid to thousands of refugees stranded in Greece, especially as temperatures begin to fall.

A similar accommodation camp at Koutsochero, 350 km north of the Greek capital, will be inaugurated on Wednesday, migration minister Yannis Mouzalas and deputy defense minister Dimitris Vitsas announced.

Approximately 500 Syrian refugees are housed at Ritsona and another 200 are expected to be transferred next week.

The heated containers with running water were set up by the Greek authorities in collaboration with the UNHCR, the Red Cross, the Red Crescent and the support of the United Arab Emirates and can accommodate 160 families.

The Syrian refugee Ritsona camp was established seven months ago at the premises of an old Greek Air Force base and is supervised by the International Organization for Migration.

Lately, the tents have been replaced by containers as part of ongoing efforts to improve facilities for the refugees ahead of the harsh winter. Last year, thousands of people spent the winter out in the open in makeshift camps or facilities deemed inappropriate for accommodation by the UNHCR and NGOs.

In recent months, the Greek government, with international supports, has taken steps to improve the situation.

Two Red Cross doctors are working at Ritsona camp. Another four doctors will join the team on Dec. 1.

Under a pilot program, the refugees hosted at Ritsona will be receiving a monthly allowance of 90 to 330 euros (95 to 350 U.S. dollars) depending on the number of family members and their needs.

Refugees can take a bus free of charge to Chalkida and Athens three times per week.

From Monday to Friday, the children are transferred to local schools to attend afternoon classes under a program launched by the Greek education ministry in September.

"It is unprecedented having children attending school just six months after being stranded in a country. Without the support of the local officials, without such teachers, it could not happen," Mouzalas said during Tuesday's ceremony.

"We will continue like this in all camps. We are getting prepared for the winter; we are preparing the new camps. Living conditions will improve," Vitsas added.

The inauguration ceremony on Tuesday was held as tension on the Greek islands of the Aegean Sea has been on the rise in recent weeks.

Eight months since borders closed across the Balkans, leaving 62,500 people stranded in Greece across more than 40 official accommodation centers, according to the latest official account released on Tuesday from the Greek government, some 16,000 refugees and migrants have been sleeping in overcrowded facilities on the islands of Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos which have a capacity of 7,500 people.

Under the EU-Turkey agreement launched in March to stem the refugee influx, all new arrivals are stuck on the islands until their asylum bids are assessed. Delays in procedures have fuelled frustration and tension.

Protests by refugees are frequent lately, while islanders who showed solidarity with the refugees since 2015 have also taken the streets, requesting more support from Athens and the international community. (1 euro = 1.06 U.S. dollars) Endit