In detention centers police are responsible for registering and guarding migrants, while local prefectures are to assume all tasks relating to the provision of medical care and living conditions (shelter, food, personal hygiene items and clothing). However, the involvement of local prefectures varies from one region to another and police are often left to carry out tasks related to the daily running of the detention centers, for example distributing hygiene items or clothing. Access in the detention centers is extremely restricted for other actors, such as NGOs. No mechanisms for the routine inspection and monitoring of the detention centers are in place, with the exception of visits organized by international bodies. Delegations of the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as well as the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights have visited detention facilities for migrants in Greece on a number of occasions and have raised concerns about the conditions of detention.22 of the detention centers, the lack of coordination between the authorities involved, and the absence of monitoring. On April 14 2010, the current government announced its intention to set up a reception system for new arrivals. The reception system will be based on the operation of screening centers for new arrivals where the case of each individual will be examined separately. 23 Between 2009 and 2010, five detention centers have been used for the detention of new arrivals along the Eastern Greek sea and land borders. They were located in Evros and Rodopi region and on the islands of Lesvos, Samos and Chios. Several border police stations around Greece as well as detention facilities in the area of Athens were also used for the detention of irregular migrants. During 2009 and 2010, MSF intervened in three detention centers: in Pagani on Lesvos Island, in Filakio in Evros and Venna in Rodopi.24 The failure of the current system to guarantee minimum humanitarian standards for detained migrants is in large part due to the lack of a specific legal framework for the operation © Nontas Paschos / MSF 8