38 HELLENIC REPUBLIC MINISTRY FOR MIGRATION POLICY REPORT TO THE GREEK GOVERNMENT ON THE VISIT TO GREECE CARRIED OUT BY THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR THE PREVENTION OF TORTURE AND INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT (CPT) FROM 10 TO 19 APRIL 2018 Comments of the Ministry for Migration Policy Regarding paragraphs 96 and 97: the increased arrivals through our land borders with Turkey resulted in the overcrowding of the Reception and Identification Center (RIC) of Fylakio. In order to remedy the situation and decongest Fylakio Reception and Identification Center, people were transferred to other open accommodation facilities in the mainland. Since April additional places have been and are being created in the mainland. In particular 2.000 additional places have been created in apartments under the ESTIA programme, run by UNHCR and funded by the European Commission. The Ministry of Migration Policy has rented houses and hotels with 1.742 places in Grevena in the Western Macedonia region and in Volvi in the Central Macedonia region. Existing accommodation facilities have been extended providing around 2.500 accommodation places (Elefsina and Malakasa in the region of Attica, Andravida in the Western Greece region, Oinofyta in the Central Greece region, Kavala in the Eastern Macedonia region and Filippiada and Katsikas in the Epirus region). At the same time, an ongoing project with the cooperation of the International Organization for Migration for the gradual creation of 6.000 accommodation places in hotels is underway (till 18 December 2018, 5.182 places have been delivered). Moreover, with the support of UNHCR 13 containers and 3 WASH containers have been installed Fylakio RIC to address some of the shortcomings in adequate functional capacity of the RIC. As of 18 December 2018 there were 239 persons hosted in Fylakio, with transfers to open accommodation facilities taking place regularly. The average occupancy rate for July and August 2018 was 227 and 182 TCNs respectively. Regarding mentioned cases of persons being accommodated in the RIC for longer periods of time it must be noted that these refer to more complex situations, especially regarding custody of unaccompanied and separated minors. Regarding the recommendation to the increase of financial and staffing resources of the centre, its maintenance and refurbishment (through availability of sufficient funding in a swift manner), as well as for the provision of hygiene products and appropriate clothing it is to be noted that two complementary applications for Emergency Assistance funding have been submitted by the Greek Authorities regarding coverage of needs and operating costs of Fylakio RIC. The respective grant agreements are about to be signed, thus enabling the continuation and