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Country analysis

Greece


Greece is a transit and destination country for large numbers of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. Since 2014, the Eastern Mediterranean route has been a major pathway for migrants crossing to Europe from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Over 1.28 million refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants with irregular status have since arrived in Greece through land and sea borders, with around 46,800 arrivals recorded in 2023 alone.

Their humanitarian needs remain high. Many spend prolonged periods in overcrowded camps and centres, where the situation is dire, and thousands struggle to access adequate food and experience significant movement restrictions. Migrants with irregular status face difficulties in accessing adequate housing, healthcare, and education. Some international and Greek NGOs also encounter challenges and access constraints in assisting migrants because of cumbersome registration processes. The authorities also use criminal investigations to intimidate groups probing the abuse against migrants in Greece.

(IOM accessed 09/02/2024, OHCHR 31/03/2021, UNHCR 23/06/2023, TNH 04/12/2023, CBC 20/11/2022)

Greece is a transit and destination country for large numbers of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. Since 2014, the Eastern Mediterranean route has been a major pathway for migrants crossing to Europe from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Over 1.28 million refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants with irregular status have since arrived in Greece through land and sea borders, with around 46,800 arrivals recorded in 2023 alone.

Their humanitarian needs remain high. Many spend prolonged periods in overcrowded camps and centres, where the situation is dire, and thousands struggle to access adequate food and experience significant movement restrictions. Migrants with irregular status face difficulties in accessing adequate housing, healthcare, and education. Some international and Greek NGOs also encounter challenges and access constraints in assisting migrants because of cumbersome registration processes. The authorities also use criminal investigations to intimidate groups probing the abuse against migrants in Greece.

(IOM accessed 09/02/2024, OHCHR 31/03/2021, UNHCR 23/06/2023, TNH 04/12/2023, CBC 20/11/2022)

Latest updates on country situation

06 December 2023

The Samos Closed Controlled Access Centre, which hosts asylum seekers in Greece, is experiencing overcrowding, which is putting pressure on the food, health, and WASH services that those living in the facility need. As at early December 2023, there were more than 3,500 people staying at the centre, a significant increase from 500 in early July. Besides having limited access to basic services, some asylum seekers experience detention-like conditions for up to one month before getting access to legal assistance as the authorities check their documents. Greece is a transit and destination country for asylum seekers travelling to Europe, mostly from East Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. As at November 2023, over 42,340 refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in an irregular status had arrived in Greece. Newly arrived asylum seekers usually struggle to find adequate shelter and livelihood. (TNH 04/12/2023, UNHCR accessed 06/12/2023, CBC 20/11/2023)

16 June 2023

On 14 June 2023, a boat carrying 400–750 migrants capsized in Greek waters. The boat was on its way to Italy from eastern Libya. As at 20 June, 100 people had been rescued and 78 bodies retrieved. Up to 500 are still missing. The boat was carrying hundreds of Pakistanis and dozens of Egyptians, Syrians, and Palestinians. The Central Mediterranean migration route from North Africa to Italy and Malta is the deadliest migration route in the world, with more than 1,060 people already missing in 2023 before the 14 June incident. According to IOM, as at 7 June, more than 74,000 migrants had reached Europe in 2023, with the majority arriving in Italy through the sea from the Middle East and West Africa, fleeing wars, conflicts, discrimination, and dire economic conditions. In Europe, migrants struggle to find adequate shelter and livelihoods aside from facing discrimination. (Al Jazeera 19/06/2023,
IOM accessed 20/06/2023,
UNICEF et al. 08/11/2019)

current crises
in Greece


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

GRC002 - Mixed Migration

Last updated 28/02/2024


Drivers

Displacement

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.1 Medium

Access constraints

2.0

REG006 - Eastern Mediterranean Route

Last updated 29/02/2024


Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

2.2 Medium

Access constraints

3.0

Analysis products
on Greece

Greece: Fires and COVID-19 caused displacement in Lesvos

13 October 2020

Greece: Fires and COVID-19 caused displacement in Lesvos

DOCUMENT / PDF / 685 KB

This report is an update to initial reporting on the situation on Lesvos (Displacement in Lesvos 22/09/2020) and provides greater detail regarding the risk of COVID-19 in camps. Between 8 and 10 September, fires broke out in three different spots in Lesvos, resulting in the displacement of more than 12,000 inhabitants.The fire also destroyed a COVID-19 medical facility and interrupted all medical services for the refugees.

COVID-19
Greece: Displacement in Lesvos

22 September 2020

Greece: Displacement in Lesvos

DOCUMENT / PDF / 398 KB

On 9 September fires broke out in three different locations inside the Moria Refugee camp, resulting in displacement of all its inhabitants across the island of Lesvos. The Moria camp is one of Europe's largest refugee camps. Although its official capacity is only 2,600 it was estimated to be hosting approximately 13,000 refugees before the fire broke out. 

Displacement
Middle East - EU migration: Scenarios

09 February 2017

Middle East - EU migration: Scenarios

DOCUMENT / PDF / 933 KB

ACAPS and the Mixed Migration Platform have produced a new set of Middle East–EU migration scenarios, outlining possible developments in migration via Turkey and Greece over the next six months. The report outlines triggers that could drive these scenarios, as well as the impact and humanitarian consequences of each scenario.

Mixed migration
The Balkans: Asylum Seekers, Migrants, and Refugees in Transit

18 March 2016

The Balkans: Asylum Seekers, Migrants, and Refugees in Transit

DOCUMENT / PDF / 777 KB

As of 16 November, close to 820,000 people have arrived in Europe by sea in 2015. 85% of the arrivals are from the world’s top ten refugee-producing countries. As the sea route to Italy via North Africa is longer and more risky, and as the number of Syrians has increased, more people are travelling through Greece and then through the Balkans to reach northern and western Europe.

Mixed migration
The Balkans: Asylum Seekers, Migrants and Refugees in Transit

18 March 2016

The Balkans: Asylum Seekers, Migrants and Refugees in Transit

DOCUMENT / PDF / 705 KB

Over 800,000 asylum seekers and refugees have made their way towards Europe by land and sea in 2015. As the sea route to Italy via North Africa is longer and more risky, and as the number of Syrians have increased, more people are traveling through Greece and then through the Balkans to reach northern and western Europe. 

Mixed migration
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