22 inadequate provision of food to be one of the allowed to supplement their meal by buying most items from a supermarket that brings food pressing problems individuals in detention face today. inside the PRDC, participants have reported In a meeting with the CCAC commander in July that the food is very overpriced and too 2023, Equal Rights raised concerns over the expensive to purchase. quantity and quality of food in the PRDC. Equal With regards to the quality of food, at least five Rights was informed that the frequency of food participants experienced being given food that was changed due to a contract the Ministry had was uncooked, while others also shared with food providers. The Greek authorities concerns that the food they were eating lacked indicated they were also aware individuals had in nutritional value. As Haytham stated, “Not all been current of the food is edible,” while Yaseen explained, distribution of food and that people consider it “You feel like the person who is cooking is cooking to be one meal; however, the authorities also for animals, not for humans. But you have no said the quantity and quality of food is choice but to eat it.” Brian affirmed his inability according to the standards of the Ministry and to throw away even inedible food, explaining their distributors. In July 2023, Equal Rights that although the food “is not really tasteful, we had a meeting with the police commander of do not have any other option. If we do not eat [the the PRDC, who explained that while they have food], we will die.” Noah responded to the heard the complaints over the quantity and quality of food by stating, “We are not dogs.” quality of food, addressing those complaints It is important to note that some participants complaining about the were not his responsibility. experience additional challenges with the lack With regards to quantity, every single of participant complained about the lack of observances and particularly during Ramadan. sufficient food and reported feeling hungry, Specifically, not only did Ali report giving food while two participants additionally noted that to the cats because it contained pork — which the lack of food inhibited their ability to take is prohibited in Islam — Jamal explained that medication. Participants consistently reported they ate the food cold during Ramadan because being given one meal a day that was supposed they would wait until they broke their fast to consist of two portions for lunch and dinner; during sunset to eat it. Haytham shared, “In however, participants described the quantity of Ramadan, we stay hungry until the second day food as inadequate for even one meal and was when the meal comes. We die until we wait for the therefore failing to meet their basic needs. For meal just to eat.” example, Jamal described the quantity of food The lack of adequate food had a variety of provided as “what a small child would eat,” while Faris shared, “The entire quantity of food is not enough for even one meal.” As a result of the low quantity of food, Yaseen explained, “I am dying from hunger here because the quantity of food is very low. If I relied only on the food they bring, I would die of hunger.” While individuals are provision impacts on of food during participants’ religious physical and emotional health. In relation to physical health, seven participants reported losing anywhere from 10 to 20 kilograms due to the lack of food. This weight loss is self-reported as individuals are not able to weigh themselves in detention; however, the numbers corroborate Equal ‘Still detained and forgotten’ – Update on Detention Policies, Practices, and Conditions on Kos 2023/24