In the beginning of 2015, the unprecedented flow of migrants and refugees found the country completely unprepared. There was no plan for meeting the essential needs of the new arrivals, who would stay in temporary makeshift shelters on the islands of their arrival and then on the mainland, waiting to cross the borders. The First Reception Centers (FRCs) provided for by Law 3907/2011 were not operating, even those that had already been constructed (Lesvos), nor were there appropriate accommodation facilities for asylum seekers. The only organised facility was that in Fylakio, Evros, which was in operation since 2013 and was intended for a short stay of a few days. The complete absence of the State in securing the accommodation and the basic needs of an exceptionally large number of foreigners was noted in Eidomeni, where the refugee camp was operating without state participation or coordination. With an intervention in July 2015, and following on-site inspections carried out at the critical islands, the Greek Ombudsman asked, inter alia, for an emergency plan for the management of the crisis for each island separately, with the involvement of the local government and local services, the immediate operation of the FRCs with the procedures and specifications provided for by law and the seamless and continuous coverage of the living expenses of the thirdcountry nationals arriving at the islands. At the same time, it asked for the issue of the Joint Ministerial Decisions provided for by Law 4332/2015 for the management of the relevant European programmes and the allocation of funds to the involved local and regional authorities (LRAs) for meeting the urgent and emergency first reception needs.139 Finally, with regard to the camp in Eidomeni, the Ombudsman stressed the need for its coordination by the State and asked for vigilance for the implementation of an operational plan in the event limitations were put on border crossings.140 During 2015, there were efforts to set up and start operating FRCs in Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros, at the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior, as well as informal sites, which were managed by NGOs and other civil society organisations (Piraeus Port). At the same time, there was a Temporary Accommodation Facility operating on mainland Greece for unaccompanied minors in Thessaloniki, whereas in September 2015 the first organised accommodation facility in Elaionas, Attica, started operating after the 139 http://www.synigoros.gr/?i=human-rights.el.danews.296571 140 http://www.synigoros.gr/?i=kdet.el.news.327690 Municipality of Athens handed over a plot of land. In the fall of 2015 accommodation facilities were established on old military camps granted by the Ministry of National Defence, and on industrial properties, granted by the State or private individuals. The gradual closing of the Balkan borders, from November 2015 to February 2016, when they finally closed, resulted in the dramatic deterioration of the living conditions in the temporary accommodation sites, since approximately 60,000 refugees and migrants were essentially trapped on the mainland. This development led to the necessary change of stance of the Greek Administration towards the problem of the management of the arriving refugees and migrants. Whereas up to that moment Greece’s role as a country where populations crossed over from Turkey having as their final destination other European countries, served as an excuse for the lack of an integrated reception and accommodation system, the fact of the inevitable stay of the refugees and migrants in the country for an indefinite period of time obliged the official state to accept the responsibility of the organisation and implementation of an effective system that meets the required standards. This goal however has not been achieved to date, despite the consecutive announcements of the agencies involved. After the evacuation of the unofficial camp of Eidomeni (May 2016), most foreigners were transferred to informal accommodation sites of Northern Greece,141 some of which remained unsuitable for their long-term accommodation up to the end of the year. At the same time, new arrivals were being transferred from the islands to the mainland. The Greek Ombudsman visited various temporary accommodation sites on the mainland in 2016, which were intended for irregular arrivals to Greece before 20.3.2016, and ascertained their inadequacy. After the EU-Turkey Statement of 18 March 2016, the new arrivals were essentially being detained in the reception and temporary accommodation facilities of the hotspots in Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros for long periods of time, until the procedures for the lodging and examination of the asylum applications or their readmission to Turkey were processed. These facilities did not ensure the living of the refugees and migrants under dignified conditions, due both to 141 See relevant UNHCR announcement dated 27.5.2016: http://www.unhcr.gr/ nea/artikel/ad8d5e283f94ac1e6860773eb8bb3920/i-ya-anisychei-gia-t-1. html 43