- 50 In contrast, most foreign nationals detained in Moria Pre-removal Centre were locked in
their rooms for around 21 hours per day, as only two rooms were granted outdoor exercise at a
given time for security reasons. At Fylakio Pre-removal Centre, access to outdoor exercise was only
granted for 10 to 20 minutes per day, which was clearly insufficient, especially given the severe
overcrowding and appalling material conditions observed at the centre. Outdoor exercise had not
been granted at all during the Orthodox Easter holiday period. With the exception of Fylakio, the
outdoor space available had no means of shelter from inclement weather and only in Amygdaleza
were there some benches to rest. Neither the gravel forecourts in Amygdaleza and Pyli, nor the
bleak, fenced yard in Fylakio (much too small for the number of detainees), nor the concrete yard
space between the housing units in Moria provided decent conditions for outdoor exercise.
Further, in all the pre-removal centres visited, there was an almost total lack of purposeful or
recreational activities on offer to detained foreign nationals. Kicking a ball around occasionally in
the exercise yards was the only distraction at Amygdaleza, Pyli and Moria. Further, none of the
centres had communal rooms for association or television. Only Fylakio was equipped with
televisions along the corridor wall opposite the cells (detainees had to stand with their heads against
the metal bars to watch). Pyli was the only facility that had a dedicated place for worship.
111. The CPT calls upon the Greek authorities to take the necessary steps to ensure that, in
all pre-removal centres:
-
the emerging practice of unrestricted access to outdoor exercise throughout the day is
implemented;
outdoor exercise areas are appropriately equipped (benches, shelters, etc.);
a programme of activities (educational, recreational and vocational) is developed;
at least one common association room, equipped with television and games, and one
multi-faith room are set up.
5.
Health-care services
112. In its previous reports, the CPT has urged the Greek authorities to improve the provision of
health-care services in immigration detention facilities given the deficiencies observed regarding
medical screening upon arrival or access to health care. These problems were compounded by the
severe shortage of resources, including staffing resources, and the complete lack of integrated
management of health-care services; combined with the lack of hygiene and appalling detention
conditions, the Committee considered that they even presented a public health risk.
The findings of the April 2018 visit clearly demonstrated that the situation has not improved
since the previous visits in 2015 and 2016.
113. As regards health-care staffing, the CPT’s delegation again noted the chronic lack of
sufficient health-care staff in most of the pre-removal centres and the RIC visited. At Amygdaleza
Pre-removal Centre, two doctors and one nurse were present five days a week, in addition to one
health visitor. At Fylakio Pre-removal Centre, one doctor was present five days a week and four
nurses worked in two shifts six days a week. This was, however, entirely insufficient for the number
of foreign nationals detained at the centre.
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