Greece receives 481 mln euros from EU for refugee crisis since 2015

Greece has received 481.9 million euros (513.3 million U.S. dollars) in aid from the European Union (EU) over the past two years to deal with the refugee crisis, local media reported on Thursday.

The beneficiaries of the emergency funds are the Greek authorities (ministries, police, coast guard, etc.) and international and European organizations and NGOs, Greek national news agency AMNA reported, citing European Commission data.

At least 186 million euros were allocated for specific projects, including improving existing accommodation centers, constructing new camps before the winter, and improving hygiene conditions.

The data was released as Greek authorities were criticized this week for the lack of adequate preparation to protect refugees from adverse winter weather conditions.

The snow front which has hit Greece hard since last Friday meant that thousands of refugees and migrants had to suffer through it while living in shelters that are ill-adapted for winter.

Tents without heating have been covered in snow in the overcrowded hotspot of Moria on Lesvos island where 2,500 people are accommodated. Other camps on the mainland were similarly affected.

Opposition parties and media talk about the mismanagement of funds and lack of coordination.

Deputy defense minister Dimitris Vitsas said when speaking to Real FM radio station that authorities "were caught unprepared."

"I am not looking for excuses, especially for Moria," he said, as a Hellenic Navy ship was dispatched to Lesvos to help provide accommodation from Thursday to about 500 refugees and migrants.

The majority of the 62,000 refugees and migrants stranded in Greece since the closure of the Balkan route to central Europe last February were hosted in better living conditions, Vitsas said. Endit