The general conditions reported on Amygdaleza are concerning. The number of people per room was varied,
ranging between four to eight people per caravan container. Some reported there being metal bunk beds with
mattresses, others were forced to sleep on the floor without a mattress or blanket. The hygiene conditions
were consistently described as extremely poor, the toilets and showers often dirty and dysfunctional, with no
access to laundry facilities or cleaning services. Similarly to Corinth, detainees were provided with a small
bottle of shampoo, soap and a towel upon arrival, but regardless of the length of stay these were never
replaced. In addition, interviewees reported that the food quality was low, and not remotely fresh or
nutritious, pushing many individuals to pay for dry food from external sources including a weekly market.
Those without financial resources were left with no other support. A significant lack of clothing was provided,
particularly when seasons changed and respondents consistently reported that they were cold at night.
Although there is outdoor space surrounding the caravan containers, detainees reported that there were no
recreational activities provided, neither a library. A third of interviewees described that the critical lack of
activities or mental stimulation resulted in tensions and fights breaking out between detainees.
Despite the 2018 CPT report stating that the doctors and nurses were present five days a week, and the
Directorate of the Hellenic Police stating that there were two doctors in Amygdaleza and three nurses in 2022,
[66] all of the people we spoke with described extremely limited access to medical care, and often only in
urgent cases.
In general, detainees health issues or medical requests were ignored, and the mental health of detainees was
reportedly critical, with numerous individuals describing the suicidal thoughts they had.
Overall, our research found that
people who were detained in
Amygdaleza expressed the
most consistent and concerning
state of mental wellbeing in the
centre, not only as a response
to the prolonged limbo that
they had faced without
information,
but
further
amplified
by
the
harsh
conditions of the centre described as ‘a stable, not even
fit for animals’ - and lack of
psychological support.
Source: Amygdaleza PRDC, MIT respondent
There was a general doctor who can give just very simple medicine but if somebody
has psychological problems they don’t believe them. I had some psychological
problems. I was asking for that for like ten months, but they only took me to the
hospital after ten months and they didn’t help me at all.
Driss, Amygdaleza
19