GREECE IRREGULAR MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS ROUTINELY DETAINED IN SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS 37 In March 2010, Amnesty International interviewed A., an irregular migrant who was held in Venna during the time of the protest.137 A. said that the food provided was not sufficient, that the dormitory his group stayed in was dirty, that there were not enough blankets for the detainees and that those provided were dirty. He also spoke of being cold and said that the heating was only turned on for approximately 15 minutes twice a day. 5.1.3. HOLDING FACILITY FOR IRREGULAR MIGRANTS, ATTIKA ALIENS’ POLICE DIRECTORATE Amnesty International has received reports of overcrowding and poor detention conditions in the holding facility of Attika Aliens’ Police Directorate (Petrou Ralli). Some 160 migrants, including a number of unaccompanied children, are reported to have been transferred from various immigration detention centres on the islands of Symi, Leros, Chios and Mytilini on 9 August 2009, arriving the following day at the Aliens’ Directorate. According to these reports, approximately 60 of them slept in overcrowded conditions in the basement of the holding facility, while around 100 slept on the floor of the yard which is used for outside exercise.138 Amnesty International expressed its concerns over the reported conditions in a letter sent to the Greek Government and copied to the competent police authorities on 27 August 2009. No reply has been received to date to the organization’s enquiries. An on-site investigation of the holding facility was conducted by the Greek Ombudsman on 27 August 2009. The Ombudsman concluded, among other things, that a number of the migrants appeared to have slept in the yard for at least one night, and noted problems regarding their access to shower and toilet facilities.139 In mid-January 2010, Amnesty International was informed of the case of A.K., an 18-year-old Afghan who was detained at the facility. One of A.K.’s relatives told the organization that A.K. was suffering from a serious health problem (hepatitis B) and that his medication had run out. A.K.’s repeated requests to be seen by a doctor were reportedly ignored by the officers in charge. Police authorities in Petrou Ralli informed Amnesty International about the status and grounds of A.K.’s detention. However, they did not reply to questions raised about A.K.’s state of health and access to a doctor. Amnesty International was informed by A.K.’s relatives that he was released a week after the organization’s contact with the authorities. 5.1.4. HOLDING FACILITY FOR IRREGULAR MIGRANTS, THESSALONIKI Overcrowding, lack of beds and no opportunity to exercise were among the problems reported in the holding facility of the Aliens’ Sub-Directorate in Thessaloniki. In February 2010, Amnesty International was informed that three Turkish asylum-seekers, who had been held in the facility between September 2009 and January 2010, had not been provided with the opportunity to exercise during that period, and slept on mattresses on the floor of their cell.140 Despite the limited space, around 25-30 people were reportedly detained in the cell.141 Amnesty International also interviewed an irregular migrant detained for a short period in the holding facility prior to his transfer to another facility in north-east Greece, who spoke of insufficient food and dirty cells. 5.2. BORDERGUARD STATIONS AND POLICE STATIONS Irregular migrants and asylum-seekers may be detained following their apprehension for immigration related purposes at borderguard stations, which are usually at the country’s points of entry. They may also be detained at police stations in the area where they have Index: EUR 25/002/2010 Amnesty International July 2010