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Europe

Greece

Greece has been a crossroad for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers fleeing war, violence, persecution and economic and environmental disaster for decades. DRC is present in Greece since 2015, when more than one million people fleeing conflict, poverty and despair in the Middle East, South and Central Asia passed through the country, triggering the provision of emergency humanitarian support for the first time inside the European Union.

Current situation

DRC works at various sites on the Greek mainland facilitating access to protection assistance and information about human rights, as well as continued provision of non-formal education and a focus on aspects of legal aid. 

Land and sea arrivals through the Eastern Mediterranean route is seen to be on the rise in 2023. At the same time, capacities to receive asylum-seekers are reduced and the regulation and management of reception and integration services have increasingly moved under national authorities. 

Core sectors Greece

Protection
Economic Recovery
Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding
Shelter and Settlements
Camp Coordination and Camp Management

Displacement trends

Source: | UNHCR

11 Sep 2023

Greece: Celebrating friendship in a music video by refugee children

29 Aug 2023

Greece: Access to quality education for refugee children 

16 Jun 2023

Joint NGO Statement: The EU must not be complicit in the loss of lives at sea and in rights violations at Europe’s borders

16 Jun 2023

Greece: Need for spaces that are child-friendly and safe

30 May 2023

Protecting Rights at Borders VI: What we do in the shadows

15 May 2023

DRC Greece: Human Rights Actors join forces across Europe

DocumentsAll Documents

Joint NGO Statement: The EU must not be complicit in the loss of lives at sea and in rights violations at Europe’s border

16 Jun 2023

DRC Greece Help Line services come to an end.

31 May 2023

PRAB reports

30 May 2023

PRAB policy notes

30 May 2023

Infographics: DRC Ukraine Crisis Response and a Summary of Achievements in Europe 2022-23

16 Mar 2023

Ukraine - One year of war: Report on DRC's crisis response

10 Mar 2023

Why we are there

DRC has experience as one of the key humanitarian actors for people affected by displacement operating in Greece. Support is still needed to ensure that reception and accommodation facilities are dignified, well staffed, culturally appropriate, and respectful of humanitarian standards.

DRC Greece furthermore is positioned to provide relevant and timely information, protection assistance, legal aid, and integration opportunities to displaced people. 

What we do

DRC Greece works in multiple temporary accommodation facilities, providing a range of support services focus on access to education, school readiness, as well as skills development.

In parallel, DRC continues to advocate for access to asylum, basic rights, and integration opportunities in Greece, and for a people-centered and protection-focused response in the EU as part of an ongoing search for integrated, sustainable solutions.

Working in collaboration with

 Recording Mechanism of Informal Forced Returns
Recording Mechanism of Informal Forced Returns
UNICEF
UNICEF

Our work is funded by

The European Union
UNICEF
UNICEF

Contact

Christina

Papatheodorou

Country Director

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