camp, found bellow the RIC, where today’s Pre-Removal Center stands.110 This makeshift camp was characterized by an acute lack in medical provisions, with residents, who were left to survive ‘totally unattended and fully exposed to all kinds of risks’,111 not being screened for any potential vulnerabilities, as the RIC would not recognize them as falling under its competence. The “Annex” was ultimately closed in March 2017, but not least due to these living conditions, tensions were commonplace throughout this period and up to the summer of 2017.112 In December 2016, for instance, some of the Annex’s frustrated inhabitants began protesting, with some tensions arising on the 19th (small fires, broken windows etc.).113 Furthermore, during the first months of the RIC’s functioning, only asylum application made by Syrian nationals would be registered (a common issue on the islands, at the time), leading to further exacerbating tensions as, inter alia, asylum seekers of Pakistan at the time constituted roughly 90% of the local population.114 Other issues observed throughout 2016-2017 and at least up to March 2017, concerned matters pertaining to the bad quality of food, constant light and water shortages, and especially poor sanitary conditions, with the RIC’s sewage system being regularly overflown and leading to the creation of small ponds throughout the RIC.115 Security was also a major issue of concern, especially at night. At the time, sections were not properly divided (e.g. minors living in containers with adults), and several SGBV incidents were reported.116 Most worryingly, some cases of sexual harassment were reported with respect to unaccompanied minors, whom despite being accommodated in a separate and allegedly guarded section, were not properly protected.117 From what we could tell during our visit, this was no longer an issue at the RIC. It needs to be pointed, nevertheless, that whether this was the result of successful efforts to accommodate beneficiaries in a safety first manner (e.g. families with families, single women with single women), was not possible to confirm. The very fact that the RIC’s inhabitants largely composed of families, as well as the fact that conditions in the RIC were highly pertinent on lower, and thus more manageable, numbers of arrivals, in themselves, facilitated the creation of a safer environment. Both, however, are matters highly pertinent on chance, and there is an ever present risk of deterioration, if the composition and/or number of arrivals change, while asylum seekers are forced to remain on the islands; an aspect which was affirmed throughout October-November 2017, when increased arrivals led to the RIC’s surpassing its capacity by some 200 persons (920 at the end of November), with many newcomers being sent for “accommodation” at the Pre-Removal Center instead. “we live with a constant agony... every moment may bring something new”.118 In terms of security, furthermore, regular police presence clearly provided for at least a semblance of security. Nevertheless, much like in Moria, Lesvos, the main gate to the RIC remained scarcely unsupervised, and anyone could freely enter-exit without official’s taking notice. Indeed, from what we could tell, the only section were security checks were regularly conducted was the RIC’s small, barbed-wire fenced, sub-section, where the GAS’s offices were found. 35