INTRODUCTION Every year tens of thousands of asylum seekers and migrants arrive in Greece, one of the main entry points to Europe. Many of them have left unstable or war-torn countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq or are escaping persecution, human rights violations or extreme poverty. Most have survived long and perilous journeys, hiding in crammed trucks or traveling in small, crowded boats. Lacking legal ways to enter Europe, many had to use the services of smuggling networks. Once they arrive in Greece, irregular migrants and asylum seekers are systematically detained, often in overcrowded facilities. Sanitary conditions are usually very poor and health care is inadequate. Psychosocial support is lacking. Vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors and pregnant women, are also detained in degrading conditions. Detention centers lack support staff and interpreters. Migrants and asylum seekers receive no or little information about their legal status or the detention system. This report documents the unacceptable living conditions in the three detention centers where MSF provided psychosocial support during 2009 and 2010.3 It presents statistical data and individual testimonies as well as data from psychological counseling sessions. The report covers the period of August 1st 2009, when the project started, to April 30th, 2010. This report aims to raise awareness and express concerns about the impact of the current detention system on the mental health and wellbeing of migrants and asylum seekers arriving in Greece. It shows that detention can exacerbate existing symptoms and contribute to new traumas and psychological distress. The report often cites what newly arriving migrants told MSF teams about their experience in the detention. This is to give them a voice and to give the reader a sense of the severity of what they are going through. 3