new arrivals increased by 96% compared to 2021 giving a significant rise in the number of the transfers to the mainland.111 Local communities also expressed their opposition against the creation of the new ‘Closed Controlled Access Centres of Islands (CCACI.) because they do not consider them necessary and because they have strong concerns both related to the degradation of the islands and the rights of newcomers. In Lesvos and Chios, several protests took place and citizens attempted to disrupt the construction of the centres on the islands.112 Οn 19 August 2022, a Greek Council of State’s decision paved the way for the continued construction of a new EU-funded closed controlled access centre in a 71,250 km2 forest in Vastria, on Lesvos island. However, an application for suspension by the North Aegean Region and by local communities (Komi and N. Kydonia), regarding the access road to the structure of Vastria was accepted by the Commission of Suspensions of the Greek Council of State in temporary decision 199/2022-19/12/2022. This prohibited any construction until the final judgment of the court on the application for its annulment, as it was considered that the construction of the road would lead to irreversible destruction of the forest and impact the rare birdlife of the protected area.113 In Leros and Kos, criticism against the construction of the new facilities was expressed not only by local communities but also by the local authorities. The Mayors of both islands refused to attend the inauguration of the new centres. In 2021 the local authorities of both Leros and Samos challenged the construction of new centres.114 On Samos and Leros, the new closed facilities have been moved to different areas compared to where the previous RICs were located, namely in Zervou (Samos) and Lepida (Leros). Similarly, the new facilities under construction on Lesvos and Chios are located in different areas, namely in Plati – Vastria (Lesvos) and in Akra Pachi – Tholos (Chios). In Kos, the new facility has been expanded in an area attached to the existing RIC located in Pyli. The new structures have been placed in remote locations, isolated from urban areas with very poor connection to the main cities of each island. More specifically, the new centre in Samos is located 7km away from the city of Vathy, the new centre in Leros is 6km from the city of Agia Marina and the new centre in Kos is 15km far away from the city of Kos. Similarly, the new centre in Lesvos is being constructed in an area which is 30km from the city of Mytilene and the facility in Chios is located 11km from the city of Chios. Conditions prevailing in the remaining RICs have not improved and people continue to be hosted in degrading conditions. In Vial (Chios), the conditions remain worryingly substandard despite the decrease of the accommodated population. The shocking news of the death of a Somali resident whose body was found 12 hours after his death surrounded by rodents is indicative of the situation.115 Similarly, the Mavrovouni RIC is still completely inadequate due to extreme weather conditions, inaccessible and poor sanitation facilities and the increase in security incidents despite significant police surveillance. 116 This situation coupled with the closure of the site of Kara Tepe, which was run by the Municipality of Mytilene and which offered decent living conditions to its residents, has spurred sharp criticism. Commentators have accused the government of adopting policies of deterrence. 117 Τhe new ‘Closed Controlled Access Centres of Islands (CCACI.)’ are thus a cause for serious concern, despite the large amount of funding that was used for their construction. In Samos and Kos the conditions 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 MoMA, ‘information note reception and identification procedures’, December 2022, https://bit.ly/442kpty. Tvxs, Χίος - Λέσβος: Μαχητικό «όχι» των κατοίκων στις προσφυγικές δομές – φυλακές, available in Greek at: https://bit.ly/3x6lHWb. Commission of suspensions, Council of State, 19-12-2022, decision 199/2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3Vdnva1 CNN Greece, Προσφυγικό: Στο ΣτΕ ο δήμος Λέρου κατά της κατασκευής ΚΥΤ στο Λακκί, 4 January 2021, available in Greek at: https://bit.ly/3DFVT4y and ECRE, Greece: Significant Decrease of Arrivals – Chaos Continues, 15 January 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/37tbYPr. The Guardian, ‘A scene out of the middle ages’: Dead refugee found surrounded by rats at Greek camp, 7 May 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3J5Pxwp. Legal Centre Lesvos, there is nothing more permanent than the temporary – ουδεν μονιμοτερον του προσωρινου, 14 September 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3uTvY5z. GCR, Closure of model camp on Greek islands amidst horrific living conditions is cause for concern, available at: https://bit.ly/3ja3qPE. 40