stop receiving the financial allowance and have no process in place for – “automatic” – integration and inclusion in the labour market. Case study: Joseph* from Sierra Leone is a survivor of serious forms of violence and suffers from mental health conditions. He was transferred from CCAC Lesvos to CTRC Ritsona and was subsequently notified a second instance negative decision on his asylum claim in early March 2024. He stopped receiving food as of that point. After the psychiatric ward of a public hospital attested the need for him to receive food and to continue his treatment, the Health Care and Psychosocial Support Unit of the camp recommended that he be included in food provision at the end of March. Joseph, while in treatment, remained excluded from food in the camp for one month. His application for judicial review and suspension of the rejection of his asylum claim is pending before the Administrative Court of Athens. The European Commission continues to remind the Greek authorities that food provision to all camps residents regardless of status is imperative,29 in line with their duty to respect the fundamental right to dignity and the prohibition on inhuman and degrading treatment. Similar recommendations are expressed by the Greek Ombudsman. 30 At the time of writing, however the RIS has not revisited its position on food provision to recognised refugees and rejected asylum seekers in the camps. Financial allowance The financial allowance foreseen in Greek law among other forms of “material reception conditions” consists of a “set financial sum offered to beneficiaries, complementary to housing, with a view to covering basic needs of food, clothing, shoes, personal hygiene, telecommunications, transport within the place of residence and basic school and pharmaceutical expenses”.31 Here too, eligibility for this allowance is reserved to asylum seekers who reside in the country’s reception system. 32 The allowance is funded by AMIF 2021-2027. It is disbursed on an account that may be accessed by PIN code. Sums disbursed by month vary according to family composition as follows: Level of monthly financial allowance for asylum seekers Unit Sum 1 person 75 € 2 persons 135 € 3 persons 160 € 4+ persons 210 € Source: Article C Annex ΙΙΙ JMD 2089/2021 Nevertheless, even most asylum seekers who live in camps and are entitled to the financial allowance do not receive it in practice. Out of 25,484 asylum seekers entitled to reception 29 30 31 32 European Commission, Letter to civil society organisations, Ares(2024)613054, 26 January 2024; Email correspondence: ‘Flash report: first meeting with Migration Minister Keridis 10 July’, Ares(2023)8357978, 11 July 2023. Ombudsman, The Challenge of Migratory Flows and Refugee Protection, April 2024, 59. Article Α1 Annex ΙΙΙ JMD 2089/2021, Gov. Gazette Β΄4496/29.09.2021. Article Β1 Annex ΙΙΙ JMD 2089/2021. RSA REPORT │ REFUGEE CAMPS IN MAINLAND GREECE | JUN 2024 8