7. Health 46 »I need a doctor!« N.R. from Iraq (Kurd)148 ■ N.R. was arrested on March 23, 2011. From his first day in detention, he was spitting blood. His health problems may have resulted from chemical bombs he had been exposed to in Kurdistan. He was transferred to Didimoticho health centre. Despite his very bad health condition he was never transferred to a hospital. One week after the first examination, his health condition worsened. He was again transferred to Didimoticho. There was never any interpreter present. N.R. started vomiting blood. »I need a doctor,« he told the GCR-lawyer. 13 days after his last visit to the doctor, he was again brought to the health centre, where he stayed for four days. He was released from detention after 11 days without receiving any medication or medical certificates, and without being referred to any further medical examinations or therapies. The assessment of detainees’ psychological problems requires several sessions and hence a prolonged treatment. In Evros, this is virtually impossible because there is not sufficient staff and the detention conditions worsen the mental health condition of the detainees in need. In many cases, the mental illness or psychological problems of detainees are either not diagnosed in time, thus delaying their release and deteriorating their mental condition; or they are not diagnosed at all. In the latter case, a person in need might stay in detention for the maximum period of six months. This shows that the assessment of mental health problems is not guaranteed. In any case, therapy under these conditions is impossible. 7.7 Treatment of vulnerable groups Authorities should avoid detaining minors, pregnant women and those who have recently given birth, considering their special needs. »The competent authorities to receive and accommodate or to receive and examine an application for asylum, shall ensure that persons who have been subjected to torture, rape or other serious acts of 148 N.R. from Iraq – Fylakio; Interview with GCR-lawyer April 2011 in Orestiada 149 Article 20 of Presidential Decree 220/2007 on the transposition into the Greek legislation of the Council Directive 2003/9/ EC laying down minimum standards for the reception violence, are referred to a specialized unit in order to receive support and the necessary treatment of damages and wounds caused by the aforementioned acts«, as prescribed by law.149 In Evros, authorities do not refrain from the systematic detention of vulnerable groups. There are no effective safeguards and trained personnel to identify vulnerable groups, such as victims of torture, trafficking or other forms of violence. The absence of adequate medical screening forecloses appropriate treatment of those in need. Furthermore, there are no provisions for the referral to specialized reception centres. Except for unaccompanied minors, none of the vulnerable migrants we met were ever referred to a specialized reception centre. During our missions, we met asylum-seeking detainees who had allegedly suffered extreme forms of torture in their countries of origin. We requested the authorities to refer them to specialized centres for rehabilitation. The authorities never even responded to their applications. Detainees with chronic and serious diseases are not always identified, and thus wrongly detained for long periods. »There was a man with diabetes. Nobody would listen to him. He ran out of diabetes medication for days. Then he was transferred, but I don’t know where they took him. Now there’s another one with diabetes in my cell. He receives no treatment«.150 In another case, an asylum seeker was suffering from chronic heart disease and high blood pressure. Nevertheless, he was detained for over two months and was only released upon intervention of the mission’s lawyers.151 People with asthma and bronchitis find themselves forced to sleep on humid floors.152 »I have Asthma. In Soufli, 40 days ago, we were 120 persons in our cell. I had to sleep next to the toilet. It is very difficult to breathe in here. Once they brought me to the hospital. Afterwards they told me I was fine. The doctor here only tells us ›malaka, malaka, malaka. [Malaka: Greek word for asshole]‹«153 Most women in detention suffer from gynecological problems owing to lack of hygiene, but do not receive treatment. After her arrest on November 23, 2010, in the area of Soufli, J.A. from Egypt was brought to Feres and 150 151 152 153 of asylum seekers in Member States. M.S. from Iran; December 20, 2010 – Fylakio A.H. from Iraq; December 19, 2010 – Soufli Y.M. from Iraq; December 21, 2010 – Tychero A.N. from Palestine; October 11, 2011 – Soufli