309643
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- 17th November 2023, Thessaloniki, Northern Greece
- Detention centre related
- Detention Centre Country
- Greece
- Duration of detention
- 18 - 24 months
- Nationality
- Syria
- Age
- 58
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Mass/sweep
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Unknown
- Detained before?
- No
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Witnessed
- Type of violence experienced
- Physical violence
- Was the respondent forced to sign documents?
- Yes, in translation
- Did the respondent have access to translation?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to medical aid?
- Yes, limited
- Did the respondent have access to NGOs?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to legal support?
- No
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Yes
- Appealed?
- Unknown
- Number detained in cell
- Unknown
- Number detainees sharing WC
- Unknown
- Hygiene rating
- Very poor
- Type of cell
- Unknown
- Had access to phone?
- Unknown
- Had access to WiFi?
- Unknown
- Ventilation
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- Unknown
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Physical
- Verbal
- Meal quality
- Unknown
- Meal quantity
- 1 per day, in RIC
- Had access to water?
- Unknown
- Had access to outdoor space?
- Unknown
- Had access to educational resources?
- Unknown
- Had access to religious space?
- Unknown
- Had access to electricity?
- Unknown
- Had access to bed?
- Unknown
- Had access to laundry?
- Unknown
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Unknown
- Had access to mattress?
- Yes
- Narrative
The respondent is 58 years old and is from Syria. He and his family were apprehended in Kos island and transferred to a refugee camp for two years. Upon arrival in the facility, the respondent was searched, fingerprinted, and photographed. He was then given a mattress and blankets. After three days, the respondent reportedly signed a document translated in Arabic to proceed related to his asylum application. The respondent reported that he did not receive legal support at the camp. He explained that medical and psychological services were provided, but that securing an appointment was challenging as the family received rejections on their asylum application. “There was medical support, but since we got the rejection my wife cannot get medicine, cannot go to the hospital, the same for my kids and me. [...] [For the psychological support] it took us months to make an appointment and when we got an appointment he gave us 10 minutes.” The respondent reported the presence of mice and poor hygienic conditions in the camp. Furthermore, he explained that he and his family struggled having access to enough food. They were receiving one meal a day and they could not afford to buy additional food at the local market. The respondent reported that the stress felt by those at the camp led to outbreaks of violence, moreover, he witnessed episodes of police violence when camp residents would queue for services. The respondent reported that the camp closed on the 20th of December 2022. Following the closure, authorities brought his family to Athens by boat. Given that their asylum applications were rejected they were not able to enter a camp but instead received housing through a non-governmental organisation.