1
General
1.1
Introduction
The document describes the living conditions in
Malakasa camp in Attica region, Greece
1.2
Terminology
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Term
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Description
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Remarks
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1.3
References
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Ref.
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Document
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Document
location
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[1]
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Practical Guide to the
Systematic Use of Standards & Indicators in UNHCR Operations
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http://www.unhcr.org/40eaa9804.pdf
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1.4
Disclaimer
Unless otherwise specified, the document
reports information available on April 5, 2016 .
Due to rapidly changing circumstances, the
absence of official data and inconsistencies identified across a multiplicity
of (unofficial) sources, data accuracy and completeness may not be guaranteed.
However, all information is reported to the best knowledge of the author, given
in good faith, and selected across sources (including onsite witnesses) and
media deemed reliable.
2
Malakasa Camp
2.1
Living Conditions
2.1.1
General
Malakasa is an emergency reception site in Attica region of Greece
The site opened on March 8,
2016 .
Although the initially planned capacity was
4,000, currently the maximum capacity of the camp is reported to by 1,000.
The camp is managed by the army. Kids are seen playing alongside soldiers
who patrol the site with weapons in their hands.
According to UNHCR sources, a mobile UNHCR team
is assigned to the camp.
Refugees are permitted temporary exit from the
camp upon request.
Small crimes are being reported, such as theft
of chickens from local farms.
Alcohol smuggling and marketing in the camp is
spreading.
There is an urgent and great need for
volunteers helping at the camp.
It is denounced that on March
31, 2016 ,
lawyers from the “Greek Council for the Refugees” who planned to visit the site
following an invitation by the local Team of Solidarity were denied access to
the camp. Purpose of the planned visit was to brief the refugees with
information on the subjects of asylum application, consequences of the
EU-Turkey agreement.
2.1.2
Number of People at the Camp
According to UNHCR data latest updated on April
3, 2016 ,
currently 1,118 people are living at the camp, therefore exceeding by 118 the
camp’s current capacity.
On March 16, 2016 , when the population at the camp
was around 800, the majority of the people were families of Afghan citizenship and 200 unaccompanied
children.
According to latest information available on April 3, 2016, Afghans are
still the majority of the population at the camp.
The presence of refugees of Iranian nationality is also recorded.
There are no updates regarding the present population’s distribution in
terms of sex and age. However, the presence of many women (including more than
50 pregnant women), children, infants, disabled people (including a
quadriplegic girl) and teens is reported.
According to latest reports from Piraeus port in Athens, there is an
ongoing attempt to transfer additional 300 Afghans from the port informal
settlement at the passengers’ terminal to Malakasa.
2.1.3
Food
Three meals
per day provided by the Greek army.
On April
5, 2016 , it
was reported that refugees returning to the camp were found with chickens
stolen from local farms.
2.1.4
Health
According
to information available on March 16, 2016 , there is inadequate medical assistance.
A later
report dated April 3, 2016 , confirmed the urgent need for
doctors (including women’s health specialists) and midwives.
On March
30, 2016 , a
miscarriage was reported.
2.1.5
Water
No
information available.
2.1.6
Sanitation
No information regarding the number of toilets
or the presence of showers.
The camp was not equipped with toilets
accessible by people disabled or with mobility problems. When a quadriplegic
girl arrived at the camp with her family, the army faced difficulties in
providing a toilet suitable for disabled access due to the asking price of a
suitable provider identified (300 euros per month, 2,400 euros to be paid in
advance). The effort of the army personnel managed to solve the problem
internally. However, this brings to attention the absence of planning for
facilities accessible to the disabled in the construction of reception sites.
2.1.7
Shelter
People
sleep in tents with no floor, in sleeping bags or over blankets placed on the ground.
There are about
10 people per tent.
Tents have
no heating.
2.1.8
Environment
The camp is an
open site field, with few small buildings used as warehouses.
The site
ground becomes muddy and swampy when rainy weather occurs.
The camp is
managed by the army. Kids are
seen playing alongside soldiers who patrol the site with weapons in their
hands.
