Α. Administrative procedures and problems head of the open Temporary Reception or Accommodation Facilities or to the appropriate social support or protection agency to which they are referred. In any case, the continuation of any medical treatment in the cases where such is required is ensured. The persons belonging to vulnerable groups may remain at the RICs, in special areas, until the completion of the procedures of Article 9 of Law 4375/2016, without prejudice to the deadlines of Article 14(2) of the same law. The Reception and Identification services take special care to refer families with children under 14 years old, in particular toddlers and infants and to meet their particular needs. Also, according to Article 14(2) of Law 4375/2016 there is provision with regard to persons who belong to vulnerable groups, that the Director of the Reception and Identification Center at the country’s borders, due to emergency needs because of the increase of the arrivals or for the appropriate completion of these procedures, and in particular with regard to persons belonging to vulnerable groups, may by a decision refer a third-country national or stateless person to a RIC on the mainland or stipulate the stay in other appropriate facilities for the continuation and completion of the reception and identification procedure. The same decision regulates the details of the transportation of third-country nationals or stateless persons between the Regional Services of the Reception and Identification Service. The Greek Ombudsman has highlighted the need to improve the identification and care procedure for vulnerable groups37 with recommendations and a public intervention for the problems in the procedures of first reception and identification of vulnerable groups during 2015, inviting the competent authorities to operate RICs following the procedures and standards stipulated by Law 3907/2011.38 2.2. Actions recommendations by the Greek Ombudsman More specifically, the Greek Ombudsman considers that in each case the State must ensure the safety of the persons and assure their fundamental rights for access to asylum, temporary accommodation,provision of food, water and ba37 Greek Ombudsman document dated 23 July 2015 with Ref. No. 202782/28669/2015 SUBJECT: Findings and recommendations of the Greek Ombudsman after visiting detention and reception facilities and competent services for the irregular entry of third-country nationals on the islands of Lesvos, Kos and Leros, on 16-17/6/2015 and 24-25/6/2015 (http://www.synigoros. gr/?i=human-rights.el.danews.296571). 38 See also Annual Report 2015, pg. 34. 22 sic clothing items, medical care, information on the rights and procedures, as well as the protection of those persons belonging to vulnerable groups, such as families, pregnant women, children and unaccompanied minors, human trafficking, abuse or torture victims, the elderly, persons with disability, etc. The Greek Ombudsman had in particular noted that the then applicable laws were not complied with, which provided that the First Reception Centers are the first stage from which all migrants irregularly entering the country go through for the screening process, to identify whether they belong to a vulnerable group. Staffed expediently from available sources, by officers from the Coast Guard or the Hellenic Police, the First Reception services that belonged to the competence of the Deputy Minister of Interior at the time and currently the Minister of Migration Policy, it was ascertained that they were at risk of becoming dead letter. The dispersion of the competences in 2015 among services that belonged to different institutions (the former Ministries of Public Order, Maritime and Interior as regards the Migration competence), it appears that it created an even greater lack of coordination at local level. As already mentioned during the next months of 2015 arrivals to the islands took on explosive dimensions, and the State took certain measures during August and September in the direction of the Ombudsman’s recommendations, among which we should note as quite positive steps, the reinforcement with staff and identification devices by the police on the islands in September for the fast registration of the new arrivals and the organisation of temporary accommodation facilities in Elaionas (Athens) in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior - Division of Migration Policy with the Municipality of Athens. However, there was no permanent facility created, namely a First Reception Center on the islands or Athens, but the First Reception Center wing that had been constructed and remained closed for months in Moria, Lesvos, opened in March 2016, without being sufficient for the screening, according to Law 3907/2011, of all newcomers on the island. Therefore, many of the above recommendations made by the Ombudsman remain valid. The Ombudsman had then noted the need to protect the substance of first reception, namely the elementary care for basic needs (food, housing, medical care) of the new arrivals, the provision of information about their rights and the protection of those belonging to vulnerable groups. A