136 On the islands, some vulnerable asylum seekers have benefited from the possibility of residing in UNHCR apartments, the management of which is outsourced to local NGOs, subject, however, to UNHCR’s capacity to create such places of accommodation. This, to be noted, is amongst some of the scarce, best-practices observed at the island borders, however since it constitutes a (temporary) measure of assistance, and not one that reflects the state’s engagement in the management of arrivals, it has not been discussed throughout the current research. Nevertheless, it needs to be pointed that some few of the children residing in such apartments do have access to schools in both Kos and Lesvos. 137 Information acquired through interview with Caritas Hellas, in Lesvos (13 December 2017) and representatives of Arsis, in Kos (11 January 2018). Education gaps on the islands had similarly been observed by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) following its May 2017 visit to Greece. European Parliament: Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, op.cit., pp.78. 138 Interview with Caritas Hellas, in Lesvos, on 13 December 2017. 139 Indicatively, in February 2018 a pilot project was announced, aimed at placing the foundation for refugees’ full-scale integration in two Greek, mainland, Municipalities (Livadia and Thiva). This, however, will only run for 6 months, with an additional 6-month potential of renewal. Hellenic Republic: Ministry of Migration Policy, ‘Παρουσίαση προγράμματος HELIOS για την κοινωνική ένταξη προσφύγων και μεταναστών: Επίσημη παρουσίαση από τον Υπουργό Μεταναστευτικής Πολιτικής Γιάννη Μουζάλα, τον Διεθνή Οργανισμό Μετανάστευσης (ΔΟΜ) και τους Δήμους Λεβαδέων και Θηβαίων’ [Presentation of the HELIOS programme for the social inclusion of refugees and migrants: official presentation by the Minister of Migration Policy Giannis Mouzalas, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Municipalities of Livadia and Thebes], Government of the Hellenic Republic [website], 14 February 2018, <https://government.gov.gr/parousiasi-programmatos-helios-gia-tin-kinoniki-entaxi-prosfigonke-metanaston/>, last accessed 30 March 2018. 140 Also see D., Howden, ‘Greece: Between Deterrence and Integration’, News Deeply, May 2017, available at: <http://issues.newsdeeply.com/greece-between-deterrence-and-integration>, last accessed 30 March 2018. 141 Representative of PIKPA, Lesvos. Interview held on 13 December 2017. 142 Also attested during our interview with the Director of 2nd Police Directorate of Dodekanisa, in Kos, whereby emphasis was placed on the successes in terms of managing to restrict asylum seekers’ presence near the RIC and its small, neighboring, village of Pyli. Information acquired through interview with police representative at the Pyli (Kos) Pre-Removal Center on January 10, 2018. 143 Interview with representative of Bashira, in Lesvos, on 14 December 2017. 144 Interview with member of the local solidarity group, Solidarity Kos, on 12 January 2018. 145 For instance, the increase of the Moria RIC’s capacity in Lesvos, from 2,330 to 3,000 places by 18 January 2018 via the placement of additional containers (replacing tents), or the transfer of some 6,000 asylum seekers to the mainland between October and December 2017, which as reported by UNHCR did not significantly change the situation. See the relevant data for 17 January 2018 on the Ministry Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Information, available at https://bit.ly/2Ez6MoA, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Situation on Greek islands still grim despite speeded transfers [briefing note], 22 December 2017, <http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2017/12/5a3ccd394/situation-greek-islands-still-grim-despite-speeded-transfers.html>, last accessed 30 March 2018, respectively. 146 Representative of PIKPA, Lesvos. Interview held on 13 December 2017. 147 M., S., Lodovici et. al., op.cit, p. 80. 148 Member of the Lesvos Municipality. Interview held on 12 December 2017. 149 Vimatisko, ‘Συμβαινει Τωρα: Φωτια στο Ηοτ Spot στο Πυλί’ [Happening Now: Fire at the Hot Spot at Pyli], Vimatisko, 13 December 2017, <http://www.vimatisko.gr/?page=news&records=details&_p.id=51293>, last accessed 30 March 2018. 150 Member of the Lesvos Municipality. Interview held on 12 December 2017. 151 Reportedly 5,000 to 6,000 by May 2017. European Parliament: Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Mission Report following the LIBE Mission to Greece hotspots and Athens, 22 – 25 May 2017, op.cit., p.14. In Kos, alone, since the RIC’s operationalisation in June 2016, and up to the time of our visit in January 2018, some 400 asylum seekers of Pakistani origin, alone, had fled the island, based on the asylum cases archived by the RAO. Information acquired via interview with representatives of the Kos RAO, on 12 January 2018. 46