impacting their physical and mental health.1122 As already mentioned, interpretation services during 2025 continued to be extremely limited as well as the number of available doctors depending on the region of the accommodation facility. Therefore, the obstacles in accessing health care persisted throughout 2025 as well. As per GCR’s observations in the field,1123 in Lesvos CCAC the situation was dire when transitioning from PHILOS II to IPPOKRATIS medical care project. In the middle of June 2024, organisations reported that there were no doctors for registrations and screenings, referrals to the hospital could not be made, and no vulnerability assessments were taking place.1124 Until the end of August 2024 there was a “bridge” project with severe limitations, such as the working shift and interpretation supported by RIS.1125 Regarding mental health support in particular, access to medical care was even more restricted, as interpretation is pivotal in treating such cases. Even after IPPOKRATIS commenced, referrals to public hospitals were not implemented if an interpreter was not physically available for the case. 1126 “Almost all of them talk about suicidal thoughts, lack of support, and sleeping problems” shared an MSF psychologist when talking of his recent experience on the field and further added on unaccompanied children that reach adulthood: “Once they are no longer minors, they are sent to camps, where there is little to no followup”1127 highlighting the gaps in mental health without sufficient support. E. Special reception needs for vulnerable groups Indicators: Special Reception Needs 1. Is there an assessment of special reception needs of vulnerable persons in practice? Yes In some cases No The law provides that, when applying the provisions on reception conditions, the competent authorities shall take into account the specific situation of vulnerable persons such as minors, unaccompanied or not, direct relatives of victims of shipwrecks (parents and siblings), disabled people, elderly people, pregnant women, single parents with minor children, persons with serious illnesses, persons with a cognitive or mental disability and persons who have been subjected to torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence, victims of female genital mutilation and victims of human trafficking.1128 Since the entry into force of the IPA on 1 January 2020 and subsequent law 4939/2022 which replaced Articles 1-112 and 114 of the IPA, the assessment of the vulnerability of persons entering irregularly into the territory takes place within the framework of the Reception and Identification Procedure and is no longer connected to the assessment of the asylum application. 1129 Under the reception and identification procedure, upon arrival, the Head of the RIC or of the Closed Control Centre shall refer persons belonging to vulnerable groups to the competent social support and protection institution.’ 1130 However, shortcomings in the identification of vulnerabilities (see Identification), together with a critical lack of suitable reception places for vulnerable applicants on the islands (see Types of Accommodation) prevents vulnerable persons from enjoying special reception conditions. A report published by MSF highlights alarming levels of mental health problems among asylum applicants on the Greek islands, 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130 See more on this: Voices from the Camps: Living Conditions and Access to Services in Refugee Camps on the Greek Mainland, Mobile Info Team, 2024, available here and GCR and Save the Children joint report “It does not feel like real life”: Children’s everyday life in Greek refugee camps, available here, 19 and “Refugee camps in mainland Greece”, Refugee Support Aegean, 2024, available here, 13. GCR maintains a permanent presence on the island. Lesvos Legal Aid Sub Working Group minutes of 18 June 2024 are available upon request Only one shift from 07:00 to 15:00, information shared among Lesvos Legan Aid Sub Working Group, 23 July 2024, minutes available upon request. Information shared at an IOM and CRAN special meeting in November 2024. MSF, A mental health crisis among refugees and migrants in Greece, 10 October 2024, available here. Article 62 (1) Asylum Code in combination with Article 1 i) and λγ) of the same law. Article 62 (2) Asylum Code, citing Article 41 of the same law. Article 40 Asylum Code. 228