- 46 The delegation noted some improvements, such as the installation of a playground for
children and tables with benches inside the wings. The accommodation units were generally
adequate and clean. However, the delegation observed a number of shortcomings, such as local
overcrowding in some of the units. For instance, it met eleven persons in an eight-bed unit, three of
whom were sleeping on the floor. This was mainly due to the many problems with the plumbing
(e.g. non-functioning showers/toilets or leaking pipes), electricity (e.g. non-functioning lights and
electrical outlets) or other damage (e.g. broken doors) in other units. Thus, some units could no
longer be used for accommodation, while others were still used despite their state of disrepair.
Some foreign nationals also indicated that their bedding and blankets had not been cleaned for
several months. Further the delegation received several complaints that no measures were being
taken to tackle the presence of mosquitoes and rats.
103. At Moria Pre-removal Centre, material conditions remained poor. At the time of the
April 2018 visit, a total of 134 foreign nationals were being held in the two wings at the centre –
109 persons in Wing A and 25 persons in Wing B.74
Most of the housing units were crammed with between 12 and 15 persons sharing rooms of
47 m² in Wing A (i.e. between 3 and 4 m² of living space per person). Some of the sanitary
equipment (e.g. broken taps, broken toilets or showers, leaking pipes) and most of the airconditioning units were in need of repair. The delegation received many complaints about the poor
quality and quantity of the food. Detainees also stated that they had no access to hot water and that
the water was cut off during the night (i.e. from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.). Hygiene products were
insufficient, no clothing or shoes were provided and foreign nationals were required to clean the
housing units themselves without being provided with the necessary material to do so. Further,
blankets and bed sheets were dirty and had not been changed for several months.
On 3 July 2018, the Greek authorities informed the CPT that repair works had been carried
out at the centre after the delegation’s visit and that a tender was being conducted so as to guarantee
the supply with hygiene products, clothing and footwear for detained persons.
104. At the time of the visit, material conditions at Fylakio Pre-removal Centre were appalling
and totally unsuitable for long-term detention. Despite the CPT’s previous recommendations, the
over-inflated official capacity of 374 places had still not been revised downwards and no renovation
works had been carried out since 2013. At the time of the visit, 421 foreign nationals were being
detained at the centre, including 103 children.75 With the exception of three foreign nationals, all
other persons were awaiting their transfer to the adjacent RIC (see paragraph 96). Most foreign
nationals had been held at the centre for less than a week but several persons, mainly Bangladeshi
single men, had been detained there for almost two months.
74
75
returns. 22 unaccompanied children (three of whom had a medical appointment), ten family members, three
men who were segregated for health reasons (i.e. scabies) and two asylum seekers were held in separated
wings. While most foreign nationals had been held in Amygdaleza for less than three months, one person had
been detained for almost one year and eleven persons for over six months.
The majority had requested asylum and had been detained at the centre for less than three months, after which
time they were usually to be released to the RIC. However, some detainees had been held for up to six months.
Families were mainly detained in Cells 1-3, 5 and 6 together with single men. While Cell 4 was reserved for
single men only, single women (including mothers with their children) were detained in Cell 7. Persons were
separated for medical reasons (i.e. contagious diseases) in Cell 8. Thirty-five of the children were infants who
had been born in 2015 or later. Two of the minors were considered unaccompanied by the Greek authorities.
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