Refugee child arrivals in Greece reach crisis levels

Greece is currently facing a "children’s emergency" due to the rising number of unaccompanied minors arriving in the country, particularly along a new trafficking route from Libya to Crete.

This alarming situation has led non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to urge Greek authorities to take immediate action to ensure the safety and protection of these children.

The NGOs are calling for the creation of safe spaces and the transfer of minors to protected shelters or other EU member states.

Sofia Kouvelaki, the head of the Home Project, a refugee support organization in Athens, emphasized that Greece is facing a crisis not seen in years. "What we are seeing amounts to a children’s emergency of the kind that we haven’t witnessed in years," Kouvelaki stated.

According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the number of child arrivals in 2024 has more than doubled compared to the previous year.

In November alone, 13,000 minors arrived in Greece by sea, and landings by unaccompanied and separated children have risen sharply, from 1,490 in 2023 to about 3,000 this year. “There are a huge number of kids turning up on boats every day and an urgent need for the creation of more safe spaces to house them,” Kouvelaki added.

The recent influx includes exceptionally young children from countries like Syria and Egypt. Aid groups reported that many children arriving in Greece are without basic necessities such as clothing and shoes and have limited access to essential services.

Greece’s migration minister, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, predicted that the pressure on Greece’s migration routes would continue into 2025, citing ongoing geopolitical unrest and the climate crisis. “The extensive geopolitical unrest in our broader region... is forcing many to abandon their homes simply to survive,” he said, noting that by the end of 2024, 60,000 people are expected to have entered Greece.

The situation has been exacerbated by the Greek government's migration policies. Cuts to funding for protective shelters have left an estimated 1,500 unaccompanied minors with no adequate housing or support.

Overcrowding in state-run reception facilities has led to increasing reports of violence and abuse. One particularly troubling incident involved an Egyptian teenager being gang-raped, beaten, and burned by several individuals at the Malakasa refugee camp near Athens, prompting widespread outrage.

Deputy migration minister Sofia Voultepsi expressed shock over the attack, acknowledging the presence of Egyptian minors at the camp, many of whom were allegedly involved in organized crime.

She explained that traffickers often target the poorest villages in Egypt, tricking families into sending their children to Europe under the pretense of helping them work.

These children are then subjected to extreme conditions in camps and are often trafficked through Libya to Greece.

NGOs, including Save the Children, have expressed concerns about Greece’s reception system, citing overcrowding and critical shortages in basic services, such as interpreters and guardians, which have left children vulnerable.

They also highlighted the delays in EU funds for shelters, exacerbating the already dire conditions. Lefteris Papagiannakis, director of the Greek Council for Refugees, criticized the government for the continued failure to address these issues despite significant financial investments.

In response, Greek officials have announced that efforts are underway to add 500 new spaces in shelters for children, though funding remains a challenge.

Save the Children’s Europe director, Willy Bergogne, called for urgent action to protect children fleeing humanitarian crises. "Reception centres meant to shelter them have been places of fear and isolation, with violence, alarming living conditions, and a lack of support services," Bergogne said.

He urged the EU and Greek authorities to act immediately to improve conditions and prioritize child protection.