May 2019 | Reception crisis in Northern Greece: three years of emergency solutions In mid-August 2018, transfers from Diavata and the Aegean Islands increased the number of camp residents to 765 (of 777 spaces according to UNHCRlxxi) and more than one third of the total population (293) were placed inside the camp in five rub-halls for emergency housing.lxxii lxxiii In November 2018, the official capacity given by the Ministry of Migration Policy was 1.062.lxxiv While the closure of the site was discussed at the end of 2018lxxv and the rub-halls had been removed, in March 2019, UNHCR tents were set up to host around 500 newly transferred refugees from the islands.lxxvi Refugees interviewed said that they experienced lack of safety and spoke about tensions among the camp’s residents, unequal shelter conditions, and a breakdown of community structures. Residents described the fear they felt about walking in the camp when it was dark. Electricity cuts were creating additional problems regarding the safety of residents during the night. Women refugees were scared to walk alone to the toilets and single women feared staying alone in the rub-halls with too many men. All residents were anxious about leaving their prefabs unprotected. “I don’t feel safe here. The toilette is far from my house… We stay sometimes for a week inside the tent, only going out to use the toilet. When I have to use the toilet, I lock the children in the caravan to keep them safe. My children get very scared here. Life here needs a lot of patience. … Everything is difficult here because I am a mother alone.” Anissa K.* (34)lxxvii from Syria, Nea Kavala camp. She was staying with her four children in the camp in August 2018 and has now reunified with her husband in Germany. Interviewees said that the health care services on site were insufficient in numbers and specialties (i.e. no gynaecologist and no paediatricians) and that there were not enough interpreters. They reported that in case of emergency they had to request the police guards to call an ambulance and that the guards did not always accept to do so. The nearest public health centre is 5km away and the Kilkis General Hospital is 27km away. A pharmacy is more than 2km away. This posed particular problems to pregnant women, persons with mental health issues, persons with severe and chronic conditions and victims of torture who often require more complex examinations, regular doctor visits and treatment. Asylumseekers and recognized refugees alike also criticised a lack of integration measures (no access to vocational training, insufficient language classes and lack of information on the Greek social welfare system). “When my girlfriend gave birth in Kilkis hospital, she had a caesarean. After five days she came with the baby back to the camp. The doctor had given her a certificate stating that she should not have to live in the camp with the baby for reasons of hygiene and to protect their health from any infections. We gave this paper to the camp doctor and he also said we should get a flat. But we are still here. The caravan is very bad for the baby and for the mom. The heater is not working well, so our child got bronchitis and there is no paediatrician here. https://rsaegean.org/en/reception-crisis-in-northern-greece-three-years-of-emergency-solutions 14