RSA laments fate of refugees, asylum seekers in Koutsochero

Refugee Support Aegean, RSA, a non-profit organization has lamented the plight of refugees in Koutsochero after a flood incident in Thesssaly.

Thessaly is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name.

RSA said:”After the devastating floods in Thessaly, which left many people homeless, the government announced on 11 September that the flood victims would be accommodated in the refugee structure in Koutsochero.

“The refugees residing there were suddenly transferred to other structures in the mainland, within a day, without warning and without even being able to take all their personal belongings with them.

To this day, there is no official information about the structures that received the 900 refugees from Koutsochero and the relative capacity for their appropriate accommodation there.

“This capacity is related to the state of infrastructure, staff, service provision, access to basic goods, psychosocial support, legal and medical support.

At the same time, the staff in the Koutsochero camp reported, just a few days ago, that they were forced to go to other structures for their work, at a greater distance, without timely information and without coverage of their travel expenses.

Regarding the structure in Koutsochero, since its creation, civil society has pointed out that it is located in an area cut off from the urban fabric (like most of the refugee structures).

“At the same time, there have been repeated reports of inadequate living conditions and violations of the fundamental rights of asylum seekers staying there.

“Asylum seekers and their children are systematically forced to live in remote areas with disproportionate security and surveillance measures, in inadequate and problematic infrastructure, with significant shortages of basic necessities, legal and medical support.”

Today, it said another vulnerable group of the population, the flood victims, is being transferred in the same unsuitable accommodation. According to recent publications, flood victims are obliged to provide their details to the guards at the gate when entering/exiting the structure.

“Also, their friends/relatives and the media are prohibited from entering unless they have permission from the Ministry of Miigration and Asylum (!) -which, if true, raises questions about the legitimacy of the proper functioning of the structure.

“We demand decent, appropriate and safe housing for all people, refugees and natives alike. No vulnerable group of the population can be treated as “second-class citizens”!

“The provision of adequate reception and accommodation conditions for all vulnerable groups is the responsibility of the state and must be ensured for all.”