There are, also, approximately 133 people in detention at the Pre-removal Detention Center in Fylakio (PRDC)12, with a capacity of 374 people, assuring that as for now no overcrowding situation exists. Due to the measures taken against COVID-19 by the Greek government, the access of the NGOs and their Lawyers to the premises of the PRDC and the detainees has temporarily been suspended till further notice. The official reply of the director of the PRDC, to relevant requests by members of the NGO’s that are active at the field was the following: “Visits of NGOs or individuals to police and detention centers as well as their actions are suspended till further notice. Access is allowed only to those who work there… As an exception, in special cases where the physical communication of lawyers with detainees is required, and these cases need to be adequately justified, telephone contact with the director of the detention center is a prerequisite, regarding the approval or not of contacting detainees.” Therefore, UNHCR is the only organization that has limited access within the premises and the detainees of the PRDC. Even before the above suspension, the members of the NGO’s and Lawyers had to provide an early notice, at least 3 days before the visit, in order to get an access approval and meet with the detainees. The personnel within the PRDC in Fylakio, Orestiada, apart from the police staff, has been appointed by the Health Units S.A. and consists of one psychologist, two nurses and one doctor. During March, a social worker and an administrative employee have been also appointed and one more doctor and interpreters are being expected to arrive soon at the PRDC. The personnel and the police assured that additionally to the disinfection within the premises, also leaflets and posters of the general secretariat for civil protection regarding COVID-19 have been placed in prominent points within the detention center. No COVID-19 incident has yet been noticed or announced within the premises of the Preremoval Detention Center in Fylakio. This last period, during the COVID-19 measures, the RIC of Fylakio faces the postponement of the children’s transportation to shelter facilities at the mainland, forcing unaccompanied and separated children to remain under “protective custody” for more than 6-8 months, in a close reception center that was not set up or functioned at first place for this reason. Eventually, on the 8th of May 2020 the first transportation of a minor to a shelter has taken place after a long period, under strict COVID-19 measures. 12 Updated 08 May 2020 16 | P a g e