vulnerability assessment procedures. Moreover, references for understaffing concerned also interpretation provision services.185 Similarly, the new CCAC are a cause for serious concern, despite the large amount of funding that was used for their construction. More specifically, the Commission granted the Greek Government €121 million in November 2020 for the construction of CCACI on Samos, Kos, and Leros. In April 2021, the grant agreement was amended to include additional funding (€155 million) for the CCACI on Chios and Lesvos. The grant agreement was further amended in September 2021, and in February 2022.186 According to the MoMA’s website, €43 million were granted for the construction CCAC of Samos, €39,36 million for the construction of CCAC of Kos, and €35.3 million for the CCAC of Leros.187 Conditions prevailing in the new centres appeared to be better than the ones in the RICs in terms of infrastructure. Yet in practice, the majority of the facilities hailed as significant improvements to residents’ quality of life by the European Commission and the Greek authorities –such as restaurant and communal areas, shared kitchens, IT ‘labs’, distribution points for non-food items, as well as playgrounds and recreational areas– have never been used.188 This coupled with the shortcomings in the provision of basic services and material conditions resulted in a severe deterioration of living conditions in the CCAC. More specifically, in all CCACs, shortcomings in access to sanitary facilities and items, provision of hot water, as well as in the maintenance of the containers used for accommodation have been observed. Issues with food quality and quantity persist.189 In the CCAC of Samos, the supply of running and drinking water has not been stable.190 Living conditions in the new CCACs further deteriorated as a result of the steep increase of arrivals during the second semester of 2023 and the induced overcrowding of the facilities. Due to lack of adequate spaces to accommodate people, newly-arrived individuals were placed in common spaces (i.e. restaurants, classrooms), without beds, mattresses, blankets, etc. In some cases, single parent mothers were placed in common spaces along with single men, where no privacy could be granted. 191 Increasing reports by civil society organisations since the inauguration of CCACs to date, indicate prisonlike conditions in the CCACs.192 As the European Ombudsperson has recently pointed out, the new structures on the islands "are, rather, reminiscent of detention facilities", raising doubts as to “how respect for human dignity and protection of the best interests of the child and of vulnerable individuals can be ensured” in these facilities". Also, the European Ombudsman suggested that the Commission should carry out a fundamental rights impact assessment of the centres, with a view to identifying measures to mitigate any potential risks.193 The Ministry of Asylum and Migration focuses on the 24/7 surveillance and security control mechanisms of the new centres, while at the same time, the residents face practices of illegal de facto detention and arbitrary restrictions of personal liberty and freedom of movement and have limited access to healthcare. In fact, the Medical Unit of the facility in Samos did not include any doctors, despite 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 RSA, What is happening today in the refugee structures on the Aegean islands, available at https://tinyurl.com/bdpc6byj European Commission DG Migration and Home Affairs, Annual Activity Report 2021 Annexes, 2 May 2022, https://tinyurl.com/3985fuc5, MoMA, R.I.C & C.C.A.C., https://tinyurl.com/4a4kb3f3. Greek Council for Refugees & Oxfam International, Submission Inquiry on Fundamental Rights in the EUfunded Migration Facilities on the Greek Islands Case OI/3/2022/MHZ, November 2022, available at: https://tinyurl.com/5ebxr3rh RSA, What is happening today in the refugee structures on the Aegean islands, available at https://tinyurl.com/bdpc6byj Syriza, Βουλευτές ΣΥΡΙΖΑ-ΠΣ: Επείγουσα ανάγκη για παροχή τρεχούμενου και πόσιμου νερού στους εργαζόμενους και τους φιλοξενούμενους στην ΚΕΔ Σάμου, 14 september 2023, available at in Greek at: https://tinyurl.com/355wj3ay. GCR, Absolutely inadequate conditions in the new Closed Controlled Access Center (CCAC) of Kos: The European Court of Human Rights has granted Interim Measures, 14 December 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/mr36kzwr and Civil Society Joint Statement, Not again in 2024: Call for upholding human rights in the Samos Closed Controlled Access Centre, 31 January 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/3vKHJje. Civil Society Joint Statement, Unlawful detention and worsening conditions: Over 4,000 asylum seekers unlawfully detained on Samos and Lesvos,19 September 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/727ubb4r. European Ombudsman, Decision in strategic inquiry OI/3/2022/MHZ on how the European Commission ensures respect for fundmental rights in EU-funded migration management facilities in Greece, 7 June 2023, https://tinyurl.com/3v82dswd, para. 48 53