»The truth may be bitter, but it must be told« Release Inhumane detention conditions Even upon release no attempt is made to compensate for lack of information or legal advice. The individual is handed a document in Greek, in which they are told to leave the country within thirty days. There is no advice on applicable legal remedies, much less in a language which they understand. The conditions in the three detention centres visited in Chios, Samos and Lesbos differ in some respects, however, all three are desolate. At the time of our visit the respective prefectures25 were responsible for the buildings, social activities in detention, meals, and provision of sanitary articles etc. The prefecture is also responsible for issuing travel tickets after detention. The police is responsible for transport to the centres, the installation and surveillance of the centre. In Chios and Samos the prefecture pays for tickets for travel to Athens. In Mitilini this is not the case. As a consequence refugees, including unaccompanied minors, remain without shelter or means of support in the port area of Mitilini. Upon arrival in Athens many face homelessness, even in cases where an asylum application is submitted. Asylum seekers are supposed to receive a »pink card«24 but delivery often takes a month or longer. The number of asylum seekers is much larger than the capacity of the shelters available; as a result many asylums seekers enter the procedure without shelter and without social support of any kind. Our delegation had to submit a written application to the police and the representative of the Ministry of Public Order, to obtain permission to access the detention centre. Mersinidi: Detention centre on Chios 26 The detention centre of Mersinidi lies just 50 meters above the sea, on whose beaches tourists lie. It has been operational since 2003. The inmates have a beautiful view of the sea. There are ten barracks enclosed in an area by barbed wire. Each barrack consists of three rooms and a toilet. The are 120 beds27 in the centre. The Greek government gives its capacity as 200 people28. The frequent overcrowding and Detention centre Samos Deportation orders, detention and detention conditions 21