On the 14^th of December, in the Framework of the Global Refugee Forum held in Geneva, Switzerland pledged to further support unaccompanied migrant children in Greece. At a bilateral meeting Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, Dimitris Kairidis, and Swiss State Secretary for Migration, Christine Schraner Burgener, signed the Emergency Accommodation Facilities Phase ΙΙ Support Measure Agreement, which aims to support four facilities for Unaccompanied Migrant Children on Mainland Greece.

The aim of this initiative is to manage Emergency Accommodation Facilities (EAF) catering to Unaccompanied Migrant Children (UMC) identified as homeless or residing in precarious conditions in Greece. These facilities play an integral role in the National Emergency Response Mechanism, which was initiated in 2021 in order to decrease the number of unaccompanied migrant children in precarious living conditions and will function as a primary intervention, offering support to UMC and facilitating their secure and prompt transition to alternative care arrangements.

Project description

Background

Over the past several years, Greece has dedicated significant efforts to managing migration, particularly addressing the challenges posed by Unaccompanied Migrant Children (UMC) arriving in the country. The presence of UMC in Greece has seen a steady increase since 2018, reaching a peak of 5,424 children in early February 2020 -a record high since the onset of the migration crisis. As of October 2023, 1,731 UMCs are estimated to be present in Greece. Responding to this surge, targeted interventions have been undertaken by the Special Secretary for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors, supported by UN agencies (IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). This Support Measure represents Phase II of the project, building on the valuable experience, capacity, and quality established during its previous phase, which success has paved the way for an even more robust response, incorporating lessons learned and best practices.

Objectives

The overarching objective remains enhancing infrastructure, with a specific focus on improving reception conditions for Unaccompanied Migrant Children (UMC). This phase aims to capitalize on the insights gained, ensuring an even more effective and targeted approach

Target groups

Unaccompanied Migrant Children in Greece

Activities

Under the auspices of IOM, the Emergency Accommodation Facilities (EAFs) will operate with round-the-clock support, delivering essential services such as accommodation, catering, hygiene, security, internet access, and overall coordination and administrative actions. IOM's comprehensive protection support includes personalized action plans, identification of durable accommodation solutions, healthcare, mental health support, legal assistance, caregiving, and recreational activities. Interpretation services will be provided for effective communication, and transportation will ensure swift access to essential services.

Federal office responsible

Federal Department of Justice and Police / State Secretariat for Migration