UNHCR’s main focus in Greece is to provide direct support and advice to the Government and local Greek authorities at front line reception for newly-arrived people seeking international protection on their rights and obligations.
Over the past months, an ever-increasing number of people, the majority of whom are fleeing war, violence and persecution, have been risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea and take other dangerous routes in search of safety in Europe. European States bordering the Mediterranean Sea, the Western Balkans and other European countries have been struggling to deal with this influx of refugees and migrants.
UNHCR’s main objective is to strengthen the response capacity of the countries in the region to receive, register and protect people seeking international protection, mainly in Greece where the numbers of arrivals are high, but also in other countries in the region as required.
- Provide direct emergency humanitarian assistance - providing sleeping bags, food, water and hygiene kits for people with specific needs, such as women or unaccompanied minors, sick or disabled.
- Collaborate with local authorities to quickly identify people with specific needs, such as unaccompanied children, victims of trafficking and survivors of sexual violence.
- Provide specialized personnel to support the tasks of refugee registration, ensuring that they are recognized and protected by law, visible to the authorities and therefore have access to medical services and urgent support.
- Distribute 525 emergency rescue kits containing a towel, thermal blanket, bottled water, an energy bar, dry clothes and shoes for a refugee. Each kit has a cost of 25 euros.
- Install a reception center where asylum seekers can receive vital medical care for the injuries they may have suffered along the way. It costs around 8,500 euros.