May 2019 | Reception crisis in Northern Greece: three years of emergency solutions th On 27 September 2018 a new tender for “PHILOS II” was published calling for a total of 1.576 job applications for a period of 18 months for the six First Reception and Identification Centres (RICs) and 28 camps in the mainland. The 655 announced vacancies include: General co-ordinators 7; Co-ordinators of hygiene services 7; field co-ordinators 46; general doctors 65; paediatricians 25; dental doctors 5; nurses or assistant nurses 88; midwives 56; psychologists 15; health supervisors 46; social workers 55; rescuers/ ambulance staff 36; intercultural mediators 127; The program envisages a medical team and a psycho-social team in each site. The medical teams are tasked the provision of primary health care, emergency health care, identification of vulnerable groups, referrals to secondary medical care and to the psycho-social team. The psycho-social team is tasked with an intake screening for mental health issues, referrals, and if needed evaluation, diagnosis, therapy and control, crisis management, suicide prevention program, transfer of people with mental health issues who cannot stay in the camp, evaluation of mental health for vulnerability assessment in the RICs, supervision of employees providing for psycho-social services. Specifically, the vacancies announced for camps around mainland Greece and concern the camps of the current research are: 3rd YPE: Alexandreia, Aghia Varvara, Diavata, Kato Milias, Kalochori, Sindos, Giannitsa: 1 general coordinator, 1 hygiene co-ordinator, 8 field co-ordinators, 9 doctors, 3 paediatricians, 1 psychologists, 1 dental doctors, 12 nurses, 9 midwives, 10 psychologists, 7 social workers, 18 interpreters, 4 rescuers, 8 health supervisors 4th YPE: Lagadikia, Loutra, Volvi, Nea Kavala, Vaghiochori, Serres, Drama, Kavala, RIC Evros: 1 general co-ordinator, 1 hygiene co-ordinator, 9 field co-ordinators, 9 doctors, 5 paediatricians, 2 psychologists, 1 dental doctors, 14 nurses, 10 midwives, 13 psychologists, 10 social workers, 20 interpreters, 6 rescuers, 9 health supervisors 5th YPE: Oinofyta, Ritsona, Thiva, Koutsochero, Thermopyles, Volos, Kipselochori, Trikala: 1 general co-ordinator, 1 hygiene co-ordinator, 10 field co-ordinators, 12 doctors, 4 paediatricians, 4 psychologists, 0 dental doctors, 14 nurses, 10 midwives, 11 psychologists, 9 social workers, 21 interpreters, 8 rescuers, 10 health supervisors. 6th YPE: Andravida, Filippiada, Doliana, Aghia Eleni, Katsikas: 1 general co-ordinator, 1 hygiene coordinator, 6 field co-ordinators, 5 doctors, 2 paediatricians, 1 psychologists, 0 dental doctors, 7 nurses, 6 midwives, 6 psychologists, 5 social workers, 8 interpreters, 6 rescuers, 6 health supervisors Source: https://philosgreece.eu/el/news/call-for-tenders/anakoinosi-apotelesmaton-28-3-2017 (last visited: 8 April 2019); Source: https://keelpno.gr/Portals/0/Αρχεία/Προκηρύξεις/2018_2/ΩΛΤΞ469ΗΜΛ-70Α.pdf (last visited: 8 April 2019) xxiii IOM is providing for site management services, protection as well as translation, non-formal education and capacity building in the sites in mainland Greece. It also involves in 10 safe zones, which are managed in co-operation with ARSIS and the Greek Council of Refugees. Source: https://greece.iom.int/el/improving-greek-reception-system-through-site-management-support-and-targetedinterventions-long (last visited: 23 April 2019) xxiv DRC is tasked with site managing activities, protection monitoring and individual legal aid. The latter consists of legal info sessions, individual legal counselling and individual legal representation. A special emphasis is given to vulnerable refugees. Furthermore, DRC involves with non-formal educational activities in the sites. Sources: https://drc.ngo/media/5240212/about-the-iom-greece-project.pdf (last visited: 19 April 2019); https://drc.ngo/where-we-work/europe/greece (last visited: 19 April 2019) xxv ASB provided such assistance in partnership with ARSIS until the end of 2018. The legal assistance provided focused mainly on advice and not on representation before asylum bodies. Since 2019, the organization built its own protection team. The ASB within its current program is tasked with: SMS activities, ensuring protection and support of vulnerable groups and offering non-formal education opportunities. Source: http://asb.gr/asb-signs-agreement-with-iom/ (last visited: 10 March 2019) xxvi Vaghiochori is an exceptional case, as IOM was not providing for legal aid there as of the end of August 2018. xxvii The term White paper here refers to a police note, issued upon first arrest for irregular entry in Greece. th nd xxviii Interviewed on 30 August near Filippiada site and on 2 March 2019 by telephone.. xxix Source: UNHCR. th xxx Interviewed on 28 August in front of Diavata camp. th st xxxi Interviewed on 25 August in Polykastro and on 1 March 2019 by telephone. xxxii Letter, dated 11 February 2019. Some vulnerable groups such as women in the advanced stages of pregnancy will be temporarily exempted. Those refugees leaving their camp accommodation on the scheduled date would continue to be provided with cash assistance for an additional period of three months. xxxiii Source: https://rsaegean.org/en/evictions-of-recognized-refugees-from-accommodation-will-lead-tohomelessness-and-destitution/ (last visited: 8 April 2019) th xxxiv Interviewed on 26 August 2018 in front of Vaghiochori camp. th th rd xxxv Interviewed on 27 and 28 August infront of Diavata site and on 3 March 2019 by telephone. xxxvi Source: http://www.immigration.gr/2018/05/blog-post_72.html (last visited: 8 April 2019) https://rsaegean.org/en/reception-crisis-in-northern-greece-three-years-of-emergency-solutions 34