My field visit in Greece (19 April 2016)

Source: Ch. (Christos) Stylianides i, published on Wednesday, April 27 2016.

What struck me the most while in Eleonas was all the children. 40% of the residents of Eleonas are children.

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When we arrived at the Eleonas camp, we were greeted by Mahmoud, the camp’s manager. Eleonas is located in a western suburb of Athens. It hosts 1500 residents mostly from Syria and Afghanistan.

I was in Athens to launch the first eight humanitarian aid projects under the EU’s new emergency support instrument. This was in many ways a historical occasion. This is the first time that the European Commission is providing humanitarian aid inside the EU. 60 years ago, nobody thought that this would be our reality. How times have changed.

This marks the beginning of a new process where through our humanitarian partners and while supporting the extraordinary efforts of the Greek government, the EU has contracted the first €83 million out of a total of €300 million for 2016 to provide for the basic needs of the refugees now in Greece.

Back in Eleonas, I could see what this meant. While speaking to many refugees all expressing a hope for a better future. I was reminded once again of the responsibility to help by providing for basic needs like shelter, a warm meal, health care and protection and to alleviate momentarily their suffering so they can live in dignity while waiting … And this is what our eight solid humanitarian aid partners will do: UNHCR, the Danish Refugee Council, the International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, Oxfam, ASB, Médecins Du Monde and the International Federation of the Red Cross, as necessary and wherever is needed.

But what struck me the most while in Eleonas was all the children. 40% of the residents of Eleonas are children. Inside a child friendly space-like the ones some of our partners are planning to build in other locations-I saw some children playing football. For a moment it felt they could be children again and forget all the hardship they have been through to come to Europe. But this impression of normalcy was short lived. It was firmly whisked away by two sobering thoughts. First, a reminder of the complexity of the situation and the hardship that they and their parents must have been through. And then I thought of those children who are not with their parents. The ones who need us the most. The unaccompanied minors…. The newly funded projects have a strong element of protection and aim to provide also for unaccompanied minors, the most vulnerable of refugees.

What I took from this visit is a further confirmation of our responsibility to continue providing for all those staying in the camps whose dreams have been shattered. And I never forget the incredible solidarity, tolerance and compassion that the Greeks have been showing.

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With Mahmoud Abdelrasail, the camp’s manager talking about the needs and conditions inside Eleonas camp. Mahmoud and the Greek authorities have been doing a great job in managing the camp since it opened in August 2015. They have now started expanding the camps to host the increasing number of people who will be moved from other unofficial sites.