other data mentioned throughout this report, so too in the case of data regarding decisions lifting the geographical restriction throughout 2023, these are not to be found in the public sources referenced by the Ministry. Based on data published by the MoMA on the number of asylum seekers transferred from the islands to the mainland during 2023, it could perhaps be inferred that the geographical restriction might have been lifted in the case of up to 25.736 applicants.916 However, the specific data published by the MoMA lacks significant information, such as information on the legal status or potential vulnerabilities of the people transferred (or any more specific breakdown whatsoever), thus making it impossible to draw any safe conclusions. Based on statistics issued by the RIS on people registered as vulnerable during the first nine months of 2023, it could also perhaps be inferred that amongst those having their geographical restriction lifted during the year, there might have been up to 1,413 UAM, up to 86 persons with disabilities, up to 55 elderly persons (>65 years old), up to 240 pregnant women or women who had recently given birth, up to 1,323 single parent families, up to 1,422 victims of physical abuse, and up to 90 victims of trafficking.917 Yet, in this case too, the published data lack significant information, such as the location (islands/mainland) where the specific vulnerable persons were registered,918 whether they were subject to a geographical restriction, and in case they were, whether this was lifted and whether they were ultimately transferred from the islands to the mainland, thus making it similarly impossible to draw any safe conclusion on the precise number of those who might have had their geographical restriction lifted during the year and with what effect, on account of their vulnerabilities. Since 1 January 2020, the new regulatory framework for the geographical restriction on the islands has significantly limited the categories of applicants for whom the restriction can be lifted. Thus, the implementation of this framework can further increase the number of applicants stuck on the Greek islands and serves as a constant risk for bottlenecks that can deteriorate conditions there. This was vividly showcased in the latter half of 2023, when following an increase in arrivals by sea, there was a reemergence of conditions of overcrowding in the island facilities, leading to the severe deterioration in the quality of reception in the CCACs and to procedural delays in inter alia accessing reception conditions.919 In addition to broader gaps and shortages, such as water supply shortages in the Samos CCAC or shortages in doctors in both Samos and Kos (see further bellow),920 which are further accentuated in proportion to the number of CCAC residents, there are also ongoing questions vis-à-vis the CCACs preparedness to effectively accommodate even the number of persons foreseen based on their officially reported capacities, which accuracy needs to be checked. For instance, as reported during the Lesvos Inter-Agency Coordination Meeting, which operates under UNHCR, on 19 January 2022, due to increased arrivals, the CCAC Director had informed that shelter availability in the Lesvos CCAC had become scarce, impacting living conditions therein. Interestingly, at the time, the CCAC reportedly hosted a total of 1,920 persons, which was significantly less than the facility’s officially reported capacity of 8,000.921 Likewise, in September 2023, RSA reported an unexplained increase in the officially reported capacity for the Samos 916 917 918 919 920 921 MoMA, Statistics, Consolidated Reports - Overview: December 2023 - International Protection | Appendix A, available at: https://tinyurl.com/yc2stzh7, table 2. MoMA, Statistics, Reception and Identification Service, 2023, Registered TCNs per category of vulnerability (nine months 2023), available at: https://tinyurl.com/57mbxapd. The only exception identified concerns the registration of UAMs, for which a separate publication of the MoMA provides some further clarifications. Namely, from a total of 1,413 UAMs registered at border RICs during the first nine months of 2023, it arises that 1,068 were registered in the 5 island facilities. Yet this does not clarify whether and in how many cases a decision lifting their geographical restriction was issued. MoMA, Statistics, Reception and Identification Service, 2023, 2023 UAM per place (nine months 2023), available at: https://tinyurl.com/yfx9txj3. Amongst others, see Joint CSO Statement, Reception of asylum seekers in Greece: the demand for humane conditions remains, 9 November 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/32myr365; The New Humanitarian, ‘This is inexcusable’: What’s behind deteriorating conditions in Greek island asylum camps?, 4 December 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/ss7ufmtv. For more, also see AlJazeera, EU details violations at Greece’s ‘model’ refugee camps, 11 May 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/vnmxpfm2. For instance, see NCCBCIA, National Situational Picture Regarding the Islands at Eastern Aegean Sea (19/01/2022), 20 January 2022 and National Situational Picture Regarding the Islands at Eastern Aegean Sea (31/12/2022), 1 January 2023. Both can also be accessed on the MoMA’s website at: https://bit.ly/3OFlP83, under the label ‘National Situation: Migrant and Refugee Issue’. 186