the time), vulnerability screening had been more consistently conducted. The Hellenic Red Cross, which had undertaken medical activities from Praksis in June 2017 and for a transitional period until the state could undertake medical provisions there, as well, had assessed a total of 4,944 cases. Of these, 68 had been assessed as medically vulnerable and 230 referred for further assessment at a public hospital. Some 30 cases, furthermore, were referred for psychosocial assessment and/or psychiatric evaluation at the Mental Health Hospital of Orestiada (Κέντρο Ψυχικής Υγείας Ορεστιάδας) and the Psychiatric Department for Children at Alexandroupoli (Παιδοψυχιατρικό Τμήμα Υγείας Αλεξανδρούπολης), while primary healthcare and sessions with a psychologist were available within the RIC.92 As of the 21st of December 2017, however, HRC’s contract in the RIC ended, and the facility was left without stable medical presence. As we were informed by the RIS,93 the gap, up to the point at which KEELPNO personnel could be deployed to Evros, was to be covered on a voluntary basis by a local doctor. Regarding the timeframe when the RIC would once more have permanent and adequate medical professionals, however, we were provided with no answer. The sole quasi-answer we were able to obtain came from the police officers at the neighboring Pre-Removal Center at Fylakio, Evros, based on whose estimates such a deployment could occur (for both facilities) around February 2018. Five months on (May 2018), such personnel have yet to be deployed Lastly, it needs to be stressed that an ongoing deficiency of the Greek system of reception is the complete absence of RIC-based psychiatrists, which coupled with the ongoing deficiencies characteristic of island-based public hospitals, equates to some asylum seekers’ needs (especially) in medication not being covered, as there is no suitable professional to prescribe them. 70 L.4375/2016, asticles 8(2a) and 9. Greek Council for Refugees, op.cit., p.24. 72 Indicatively, see Amnesty International, Trapped In Greece: An Avoidable Refugee Crisis [website], 18 April 2016, pp.25-29, <https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/EUR2537782016ENGLISH.PDF>, last accessed 29 March 2018. 73 On an exceptional basis and when requested by the authorities (RIS, Hellenic Police at the PreRemoval Center), UNHCR protection staff are also stand-by to cover any urgent need in information provision. Information acquired through interview with UNHCR staff at Kos Field Office on 11 January 2018. 74 Interview with HIAS in Lesvos, on 14 December 2017. 75 Former GCR lawyer in Evros. 76 Representative of Caritas Hellas, in Lesvos. Interview conducted on 13 December 2017. 77 Representative of Arsis, in Kos. Interview held on 11 January 2018. 78 Interview with Director of 2nd Police Directorate of Dodekanisa, in Kos, on 12 January 2018. 79 For instance, as we were informed in Lesvos, there was a common belief that if an asylum seeker had family members in another Member Stats (MS) then they would be swiftly allowed to move to said MS. This was especially the case with Arab nationals, for whom the tendency was to consider that following a short stay on the islands, they would similarly be able to continue their journeys further into Europe (especially Germany). Interview with Caritas Hellas in Lesvos, on 13 December 2017. 80 Interview with RIC Director at Pyli, Kos, on 10 January 2017. 81 Interview with representatives of Arsis, in Kos, on 11 January 2018. 71 30