Estimated number of undocumented migrants:

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1 COUNTRY UPDATE FOR 2010: Hellenic Red Cross 1. Figures and facts about immigration Please add the percentage of males/females where possible National population: Percentage of population that are immigrants: 10% Estimated number of undocumented migrants: Main countries of origin of immigrants regardless of status Place Country Number of immigrants 1 ALBANIA AFGHANISTAN SOMALIA PALESTINI PAKISTAN Figures and facts about asylum Main countries of origin of asylum seekers year 2010 Place Country Number of asylum applicants 1 Pakistan Georgia Bangladesh Albania China Afghanistan Nigeria India Iraq Ghana 291 Evolution of the number of asylum applications Difference +/- First applications Rejections Removals N/A * N/A Recognitions Proportion of recognitions of all the decisions (%) 2,91% 3% 0,09%

2 Voluntary returns N/A N/A Number of Dublin cases sent back Number of Dublin cases received Add remarks if needed * Relevant data for 2009 have not been made available. The majority of applicants in year 2009 are from Pakistan, Georgia, Bangladesh, Albania, China, Afghanistan, Nigeria, India, Iraq, and Ghana. The fact that the rates of the asylum applications and rejections during 2010 decreased don t reflect the reality of the migration flows in the country. Due to the combination of the substandard conditions of reception, registration, provisions and living for asylum seekers in Greece, as well as of the awareness that in case somebody applies for asylum, they won t be able to do it again elsewhere in Europe because of the Eurodac fingerprinting process and the application of the Dublin II mechanism, it s been observed that a continuously increasing number of asylum seekers view Greece as a country of transit or short term stay.

3 3. Political and legal developments concerning migration issues List all the remarkable political and legal changes occurred in your country. List also issues with political/ public concern. Add rows if needed. Political changes (policy programmes, guidelines, etc.) Issue Short description Remarks (RC responses, problems related to these issues, etc.) Since October 2009 Greek government started initiatives in order to reform the asylum legislation and address the problematic situation that had led to the accumulation of around applications. To this end, in August 2010 the Ministry of Citizen Protection after consultation with other competent ministries and civil society communicated to the European Commission the Greek Action Plan on Migration Management. This Plan contained the basic framework of action to be undertaken in both a practical and legislative levels: creation of screening centers and a procedure for screening and registering migrants entering the Greek territory, creation of a new Asylum Department, increase in the number of reception centers for vulnerable groups and improvements in the return procedure including the reformation of aliens detention centers.

4 Legal changes (laws, regulations, etc.) Presidential Decree 114/2010 On the establishment of a single procedure for granting the status of refugee or of beneficiary of subsidiary protection to aliens or to stateless persons in conformity with Council Directive 2005/85/EC on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status (L 326/ )1. The above mentioned legislative text replaced the earlier PD 90/2008 and repealed the problematic PD 81/2009. This Decree establishes the procedure to be followed for all pending asylum applications. Its provisions will be analyzed in more detail later on but in principle it granted the responsibility for the examination of first instance claims to 14 Police Directorates in the country and in second instance to independent 3-person Appeal Boards who have decision-making authority and not only a consultative role.

5 Asylum seekers /migrants related issues raised by media, authorities, NGOs, etc. Greece constitutes one of the main entry gateways to the E.U because of its strategic geographical location and the particular nature of its borders, extremely difficult to control. Situated geographically on the external borders of the EU, Greece has both extensive sea ( km) and land borders (1248km) with mostly non EU countries: Turkey, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Greece was for decades a country of emigration but since the early 1990 s it has turned into country of transit and immigration. A significant number of migrants and persons seeking international protection irregularly cross Greece s borders. Out of these, some wish to settle in Greece but most transit through Greece and attempt to reach other EU Member States. Changes in migration flows in 2010 and especially the closing of the central Mediterranean route (through north Africa and Italy) and of the western route (through Spain) have resulted in strong migration pressure at Greek borders. According to FRONTEX at the end of 2010 Greece reported around 90% of all detections of irregular crossings at external EU land, sea and air borders. In terms of numbers released by the same agency between January and October 2010 around 75,000 detections of illegal border crossing took place in Greece. The overall number of approximately 800 places available, at the existing reception and accommodation centres, are unable to meet the needs of the more and more increasing population of immigrants. However, a clear change of trend appeared in 2010 when most migrants arrived irregularly through the land border (Evros)- through a 12.5 km zone near the Greek city of Orestiada and not through the maritime border with Turkey. During 2010 Greece was severely criticised by Human Rights NGOs, UNHCR, UN committee against torture and by the EU for its absence of protection policies for migrants and asylum seekers as well as for the reported ill treatment migrants undergo at borders. Following these several reports and a landmark decision by the European court of Human rights (MSS against Belgium), most EU countries stopped returning asylum seekers to Greece according to the Dublin II Regulation. Furthermore, the outbreak of the severe financial crisis resulted increase of the unemployment and deterioration of the conditions of life for the whole population and in combination with the concentration of emigrating

6 population, mainly in districts close to the centre of Athens (Attica square, Omonia square, Agios Panteleimon area) as well as the criminality increase at the relevant period, conflicts and xenophobia took place among the local population and immigrants residing in the region. The above mentioned events culminated in the period of September and October 2010, when regional elections were held in Greece. In addition in Patra s and Igoumenitsa s harbours, main exit points to Europe unaccounted undocumented migrants tried to leave the Greek territory illegally during the year. Many of these irregular entrants have protection needs which are not met due to the insufficiency of procedures and the lack of availability of appropriate structures in Greece coupled with the disproportionately large number of migrants that the authorities are called upon to cope with. In particular, there are a large number of asylum seekers in Greece whose claims are pending. Figures released by UNHCR at the beginning of 2010 report the presence 48,201 asylum seekers, but the Ministry of Citizens protection estimated the number of pending claims (in both first and second instance) to around Greece continues to receive more asylum applications per year. Figures by UNHCR bring the number of asylum seekers to 19,880 in 2008, 15,930 in 2009 and 10,270 in 2010.

7 4. Red Cross activities in the field of migration List all different kinds of activities in order to make it easier to share ideas and good practices among the National Societies. Target Group Type of Activity Short Description of Activity Provider of activity within RC (National Headquarter, regional / local Branch, etc.) Asylum Seekers Reception Centres in - Lavrion - Sperchiada * *(The centre operated until the end of August 2010) Provision of short-term accommodation of newly arrived asylum seekers. Emphasis is given to the most vulnerable (multimember families, single headed, chronically ill etc). - Legal support - Psychosocial support - Orientation to labour market - Educational activities - Intercultural activities are part of a wide range of activities implemented. - Headquarters - Lamia Branch office contributes to the operation of Sperchiada reception centre.

8 Legal support to unaccompanied minors in Patras Since October 2006 HRC undertook a major initiative as regards the provision of legal support counselling, orientation and social assistance to unaccompanied minors residing close to the port of Patra under very difficult living conditions and being in danger of exploitation and becoming victims of trafficking. Staff of HRC Branch Office in Patra in close cooperation with HRC HQ and with the assistance of a legal expert employed to coordinate legal activities implemented, is highly involved towards the achievement of - Psychosocial support in counselling - Orientation - Provision of sort/long term accommodation - Family reunification - Community awareness campaigns The Greek Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity finances the project. - Headquarters - Patra: Branch Office

9 Reception centre for unaccompanied minors in Volos This centre is specialised in lodging unaccompanied minors. Provision of a wide range of services orientated to the needs of the minors, aims to a total Psychosocial support model. Services provision regards: - Accommodation - Information - Counselling - Liaison with other services - Legal support - Educational programmes (Greek and English language courses, computer courses) - Participation in sport and intercultural activities - Orientations and promotion to the labour market. The Greek Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity finances the project. - Headquarters

10 Project titled: Access of minor asylum seekers (aged years old) to the educational system in Europe Meeting the challenges The project aims to support, - Headquarters influence, and improve the existing educational framework in favour of the minor asylum seekers at national and EU level, through a system of interrelated actions and methodological tools, implemented by national and transnational partners. The steps regarding the achievement of the project s objective are the following: - Recording of the current situation in terms of legislation concerning the access of minor asylum seekers (15-18 years old) to the educational system in the three countries participating to the project (Greece, Austria, and Germany). - Recording of special actions / programs in each country that consist best practice and aim to support access of minor asylum seekers to the educational system. - All partners will contribute to the development of the methodological tool that will facilitate the process of depicting the skills and competencies acquired by each individual member of the target group.

11 - Application of the methodological tool to a group of 120 minor asylum seekers in Greece. - Application of the methodological tool to a group of 60 minor asylum seekers in Austria. - Application of the methodological tool to a group of 60 minor asylum seekers in Germany. - Follow up of a sample of the target group in each country. - Creation and reproduction of DVD which will include best practices, indicative legislation of the countries of the participants, the tool questionnaire. - Organisation of a seminar at the end of the project with 80 participants from Greece, Austria, Germany and the European Commission. - Dissemination of the gathered material to national and European level through various ways (the existing networks, the seminar, electronically and /or by post to relevant NGO s, national authorities, the European Commission).

12 Refugees Multifunctional Centre of Social Support and Integration for Refugees Refugees and asylum seekers in need of support towards their integration process in the host society (singles or families) are the beneficiaries of the project. Main activities are: -Psychosocial support of refugees -Facilitation of refugees access to education. - Operation of a labour office. - Encouragement of the creation of informal networks among refugees - Project to the community of the refugees positive contribution to the society -Development of best practices and exchange of experience - Operation of a telephone support and information line for refugees. Headquarters Labour Migrants / Counselling and Psychosocial support Service Provision of social services towards beneficiaries strengthening, to achieve social and vocational rehabilitation as well as to avoid their institutionalization and social exclusion. Services provision regards: - Psychosocial support - Counselling - Liaison with other services - Facilitation of migrants access to education and employment - Information - Provision of help in kind ( clothes, shoes, food, diapers, baby milk, household equipment) Headquarters Victims of

13 Trafficking in Human Beings (VOTs) Undocumented Migrants Counselling and Psychosocial support Service Provision of social services to Undocumented Migrants as well as persons whose request for asylum has been rejected and deportation decision is pending. Services provision regards: - Psychosocial support - Counselling - Information - Provision of help in kind ( clothes, shoes, food, diapers, baby milk, household equipment) Headquarters Other Migrants (e.g. migrants who have moved to country due to marriage or studies and thus cannot be considered as labour migrants) Name and contact details of the lead person for migration matters within your National Society: Mrs Dora Papadopoulou Head of Social Welfare Division Hellenic Red Cross Lykavittou 1 str., Athens Tel.: , Fax: swd@redcross.gr