»The truth may be bitter, but it must be told« Spartan conditions result in high tension. During the day detainees can move around in the area enclosed by barbed wire. The area is unprotected from rain or from the hot sun. The barrack for women is locked overnight for security reasons.29 described torture during the arrest by the coast guard. Three Iraqi refugees witnessed the torture described by the victim earlier (see Annex p 33). Samos: Detention centre Samos-City We had numerous conversations with people who are registered with the Greek authorities as Palestinians but who give their country of origin as Morocco, Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon. The detainees complain about the bad quality of the food and the lack of space. Basic necessities are missing. Many complain they didn’t even receive daily necessities such as soap, towels, toothpaste etc. We spoke to refugees who were still wearing the tattered clothes which they had on during their arrival, weeks earlier. All the detainees questioned confirmed that there was no hot water for showering. Medical care is described as wholly inadequate. We spoke to a refugee from Afghanistan who had an artificial leg. He had lost his during a mine explosion. He complained of pain in the area of the amputation. His requests to see a competent doctor were refused. At the time of our visit a doctor came to the centre once a week. The detainees refer to the doctor as »Mr Panadol« as the usual treatment does not extend beyond handing out panadol, a painkiller. In severe medical cases the police on duty organise transport to the hospital. The detainees have no complaints about the guards. However, four men Detention centre Samos-City 22 Deportation orders, detention and detention conditions According to the Greek government the detention centre on Samos is designed to hold 100 people30. During our visits31 192 detainees were officially registered there. Among the inmates was a woman (from Somalia) and 18 unaccompanied minors (14 from Afghanistan and four from Somalia). There was no separation of unaccompanied minors and adults. The woman from Somalia was in the company of four men from Somalia, who claimed to be looking after her. Four people who had applied for asylum were also in the centre; as a rule asylum seekers are detained for the maximum detention period of three months. One lawyer is at hand; this position is EU funded (under the expiring EQUAL program). The lawyer receives an allowance of 300 euros per month for his work. The detention centre is in Samos City, in a former cigarette factory built in 1928. The building, which is in serious need of repairs, if not totally dilapidated, is in the middle of town.