v creates a suffocating living environment for children and their families, as well as for all those living in spatial isolation, which creates a series of intense psychopathological consequences and reproduces social stigma. Amidst a significant and widening gap with regards to information concerning living conditions in the mainland camps, limited publications such as the preceding one, seem to reconfirm that, even though living conditions in the mainland have been in general terms reported as better than those on the island CCACs throughout the years,970 they still remain unfit for purpose, particularly on account of their prisonlike nature and isolation from society, which results in hindering both applicants’ access to services and prospects of integration. Illustratively, out of 22 people residing in mainland camps interviewed under a joint project by GCR, Diotima Centre, and IRC between mid-November 2021 and 1 March 2022, 50% stated that they could not easily reach necessary services (e.g., hospitals) outside of the camp, and 60% that they did not have a chance to get to know the Greek society or meet Greek people, due to the isolated nature of their accommodation.971 The negative impact of isolated, camp-based accommodation to integration prospects was also highlighted in a UNHCR-commissioned study published in December 2023, which based on a survey carried out between May-July 2022, over a sample of more than 3,700 asylum applicants, including applicants rejected at first instance and beneficiaries of international protection, inter alia found much lower levels of integration amongst applicants and beneficiaries accommodated in camps, compared to those being accommodated in the urban fabric (e.g., through ESTIA or Helios support) and particularly those self-accommodated.972 The “persisting challenges, particularly concerning the remote location [of camps] which hampers accessibility of vital services, such as health care and psychological support, as well as access to employment opportunities and interaction with local communities – essential for integration” were also flagged in February 2024 by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, during a two-day visit to Greece.973 Ιn January 2023, a 45-year-old Congolese national residing in Ritsona camp was found dead in his shelter. Reportedly,974 during the night, the man had been complaining of feeling chest pains and requested medical support. As further reported,975 the facility, which was at the time accommodating roughly 2,000 persons, lacked sufficient medical personnel, had only one first aid station that was not operational during night hours. Though an ambulance was called, as per complaints by the camp’s residents, it arrived with delay and the man was confirmed dead upon his belated arrival at the hospital in Chalkida (roughly 15 km away). Residents of the facility reacted by demanding adequate health coverage. 970 971 972 973 974 975 For instance, UNHCR, Greece Update No.16: Lesvos, 9 March 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3opJQkl. Additionally, 10 described their living conditions in the camps as “very bad”, 8 as “Bad” and 4 as “neither good nor bad”, while in 68% of the cases, respondents stated that they do not feel safe in the camp, 60% felt forced to share accommodation with people they did not know and/or with whom they did not wish to be jointly accommodated, and 64% complained that the place they lived in was not clean. Data collected through a joint questionnaire prepared by GCR, Diotima Centre, and IRC in the context of the joint project prepared by GCR, Diotima Centre and IRC, ‘Do the human right thing–Raising our Voice for Refugee Rights’. The project is implemented under the Active citizens fund program, which is supported through a € 12m grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as part of the EEA Grants 2014 -2021, and is operated in Greece by the Bodossaki Foundation in consortium with SolidarityNow. As of 1 March 2022, 188 such questionnaires have been collected, albeit only 22 were filled by people specifically residing in mainland camps. Casalis M. et.al., Home for Good? Obstacles and Opportunities for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Greece, December 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/ycyacy57, pp. 41-42. UNHCR, UN High Commissioner for Refugees wraps up visit to Greece: welcomes progress on integration and urges continued efforts, 22 February 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/bdepjsbh. To Kouti tis Pandoras, Dead refugee in Ritsona facility, 16 January 2023, available in Greek at: https://bit.ly/3n2wmid. 902.gr, The death of a refugee in Ritsona proves the deterioration of health structures, 18 January 2023, available in Greek at: https://bit.ly/3HeP7WG. 195