The Silent Humanitarian Crisis in Greece: Devising Strategies to Improve the Situation of Migrants in Greece workshop report Access to Basic Human Rights for All Migrants panelinput The Humanitarian Crisis in Context Nikitas Kanakis, Doctors of the World Greece The economic crisis has plunged Greece into a social crisis that requires a humanitarian response, as more people, Greeks and migrants, are struggling to survive and have become further excluded from the state welfare system. Migrants have contributed to the development and economy of Greece but once hit by the economic crisis, they were the first to be forgotten and excluded and are now being treated as pseudo-citizens and as if they do not exist. The unyielding austerity measures that are currently in place in Greece have reduced access to basic human rights both for migrants and Greek citizens themselves, and have pushed people into destitution with little hope of support or resolve. While Greek citizens have faced substantial challenges in attending to basic needs (such as access to food and health care), migrants, particularly those in an irregular situation, face even greater challenges in accessing such services and have increasingly also become targets of racist violence, thus challenging their most fundamental right: the right to life. There is a worrying increase of incidences of racist violence that are left unpunished and with no one speaking out or reacting against it. The question no longer only concerns migration and the right to be or not be in a country, but raises the issue of intentional acts of cruelty being exerted to deny a person’s right to live in dignity. The question raised today is whether Greece supports a society of solidarity as a solution to the crisis, or whether Greece wants to respond with exclusion. It is not only about the rights of migrants but the right of society to be democratic. Doctors of the World remains committed to serving everyone, without discrimination, a mission it will continue regardless of criticism or threats. We believe it is our medical and ethical duty to act and respond to the crimes and violations we witness every day. We cannot close our eyes and ears to the cries we see every day. We cannot be neutral to the crimes we see. We have to raise our voice. Reflecting on the right to health care, Greek authorities have used financial cutbacks as a means of justifying the denial of the right to healthcare for migrants. However, regardless of the monetary amount saved, if any2, the social problems which result, such as social exclusion, fragmentation of society, disengaged and disempowered members of society, sick patients left in the streets, etc. have a far more adverse effect on society and social interaction in the long term. Integration and social cohesion could have far greater economic returns and social value in the long term. Doctors of the World will continue to do its work without discrimination in the hope of catalysing a political and social action to protect and guarantee the human rights of all persons. 2 6 Research suggests that emergency health care ends up being more costly than prevention and provision of basic health care services to the whole population without discrimination. See EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), Migrants in an irregular situation: access to healthcare in 10 European Union Member States (2011), pp. 33 7