- 47 The facility was severely overcrowded. In Cell 1, 95 foreign nationals, including families with young children, unaccompanied children, pregnant women and single adult men were held in some 100 m² (i.e. about 1 m² of living space per person). Due to the insufficient number of available beds and mattresses (i.e. the cell contained 36 sets of bunk beds but only some 65 mattresses), many detainees had to share mattresses (i.e. up to four persons were sleeping on two mattresses).76 Access to natural light was still restricted and the artificial lighting poor; the lights in the sanitary annexe were not functioning.77 Ventilation was insufficient; cells were malodorous and everyone, including small children, was exposed to passive smoking. Hygiene was extremely poor and several persons presented skin rashes. Cells and sanitary annexes were absolutely filthy and had not been cleaned for several months.78 Toilets and showers were in a poor state of repair; two toilets were blocked, one out of three showers did not function and pipes were leaking. Detainees complained that they did not have access to hot water, despite the solar panels placed on the roof, which obviously did not cover the needs of all detainees. The cell floor was partially flooded with water that was leaking from the sanitary annexe of the adjacent cell. Blankets were worn and dirty, and hygiene items were no longer distributed as they were in short supply. The other five cells along the main corridor and the women’s cell displayed similar poor material conditions.79 Further, new arrivals were placed according to nationalities and available space, which meant that the initial separation of the different groups was no longer respected, due to the high numbers. The fact that families with children, and particularly girls, as well as women, were locked in the same cell together with unrelated men, with whom they had to share toilets and sanitary facilities, presented an increased risk for their security and safety, exposing them to the risk of sexual and gender based violence. 105. This state of affairs is wholly unacceptable. In the CPT’s view, holding persons for several weeks or months in such appalling conditions can easily be considered as amounting to inhuman and degrading treatment. These conditions are particularly unsuitable for families with children, single/pregnant women and unaccompanied children,80 due to their vulnerability. In particular, the provisions for children were totally inadequate (e.g. insufficient diapers and lack of hot water for baby formula milk). At the end of the CPT’s visit, the delegation was informed that this situation had further degenerated and that, on 17 April 2018, the detainee population at the centre had soared to a total of 640 persons. At the end of the visit, the delegation invoked Article 8, paragraph 5, of the Convention and made an immediate observation, requesting the Greek authorities to take immediate steps to radically reduce the occupancy levels at Fylakio Pre-removal Centre. Further, the delegation requested that all persons held at the establishment should have their own bed and mattress and vulnerable persons should immediately be transferred to appropriate open reception facilities. 76 77 78 79 80 The delegation later found that some 40 new mattresses on stock had not been distributed to detained persons. The impression of gloom and confinement was increased by the fact that detainees had covered the bunk beds with blankets from top to bottom in an attempt to gain some privacy. No cleaning services had been provided since 31 January 2018, reportedly due to the slow public procurement procedure. Three cleaning ladies only resumed their work on the second day of the delegation’s visit. With the exception of one cell, all were holding more detainees than their official capacity. For instance, 45 persons (20 women and 25 children) were detained in Cell 7, which contained 13 sets of bunk beds (i.e. 26 beds with only 24 mattresses). Only one blanket had been provided per family. Neither of the two toilets flushed and one toilet door was off its hinges, one of the two showers did not function (and the other only provided cold water), and three out of the four taps were constantly running. The delegation met at least seven pregnant women, including several in an advanced state of pregnancy.