A significant portion of the workforce is employed on precarious terms, such as fixed-term contracts, placements through the Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED), or secondments from the EU Agency for Asylum, contributing to a lack of stability and continuity in service provision. Notably, at the time of the EEDA visit, even the Commander’s position of the facility was unoccupied, underscoring the leadership vacuum.

The inadequacies extend to services outsourced to private third parties, including the transportation of international protection applicants inland, provision of interpretation services, and supply of water tanks to the facility. The structure is also grappling with severe shortages of medicines, clothing, shoes, and even running water, exacerbating the challenges faced by residents.

Compounding these issues are the living conditions within the facility, which fall short of European standards. Overcrowding, coupled with a significant lack of privacy, insufficient availability of essential equipment like beds, and severely limited access to running water and shower facilities, culminates in an environment that falls markedly short of respecting and preserving the dignity and rights of its residents.

A delegation from the National Commission for Human Rights, spearheaded by its Vice-President, Mr. Yannis Ioannidis, along with members Mr. Alexandros Konstantinou (President of the 3rd Department), Spyros Apergi (Associate President of the 3rd Department), and Eva Tzavala (Scientific Staff Coordinator), conducted a visit to Samos on February 6 and 7, 2024. This visit aimed to assess the reception conditions for applicants of international protection at the border. This was not their first engagement of this nature, as a similar mission had been undertaken in 2020.

The delegation’s itinerary in Samos included a thorough examination of the premises of the Closed Controlled Structure. Additionally, comprehensive discussions were held with the leadership of the reception and asylum offices, security forces, health agencies, and representatives from both international and non-governmental organisations, as well as civil society actors actively involved in the area, both within and outside the structure. These interactions provided a multifaceted view of the operational dynamics and challenges faced in managing the reception and integration of international protection applicants.

The National Commission for Human Rights report highlights dire conditions at Samos facility

In its examination, the National Commission for Human Rights (EEDA) describes conditions at the Samos Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC) as critically inadequate, placing residents in extremely unsuitable living situations and immediate risk. During EEDA’s inspection, it was noted that residents often had to wait under the sun for extended periods for bus services (5-7 daily routes for over 3,500 individuals). The recent 30% hike in bus fares exacerbated the situation, forcing those without the means to pay to undertake the approximately 1.5-hour walk to Vathi.

The facility is encircled by a double-layered NATO-type security fence, with its surveillance jointly managed by the Hellenic Police and private security firm G4S. The visit underscored a pronounced and oppressive security presence, characterised by dense policing and rigorous checks, including electronic, magnetic, and biometric systems for entry and exit. It remains unclear whether appropriate permissions for the use of camera surveillance on residents, extending beyond common areas and incorporating barbed wire doubling the fencing, have been obtained from the Authority for the Protection of Personal Data. This heightened security apparatus, mirroring that of a detention centre, underscores the severity of the oversight and control measures imposed on the residents.

During the visit by the Commission to the Samos Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC), it was recorded that the facility housed 3,883 individuals, a figure surpassing its intended capacity. The conditions observed were significantly below acceptable standards:

  • The degree of overcrowding was alarming, with hundreds residing in shared spaces that offered no privacy or security. Distinctions among groups, such as only men, only women, and families with children, were not accommodated with separate living areas. The majority of residents were found to be sleeping on the floor, using blankets and boxes instead of beds and mattresses. Furthermore, the facility lacked indoor shower facilities and provided insufficient access to sanitary amenities.
  • The water supply was critically inadequate, exacerbating the already dire living conditions.
  • A notable absence of medical staff was highlighted, with the structure having no doctor present. This was despite attempts by the National Organisation for Public Health (EODY) to fill two doctor positions, which ultimately proved unsuccessful.
  • The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has raised concerns over incidents of police brutality involving border guards stationed at the CCAC, which are reportedly under judicial investigation.

In its concluding remarks, EEDA points out that “despite the Closed Controlled Access Centre being established with complete funding of 38 million euros and in collaboration with the European Union, aimed at accommodating around 3,000 individuals and guaranteeing decent living standards for its residents, as well as the proper execution of essential reception and identification processes, the initial surge of mass arrivals in 2023 highlighted significant managerial deficiencies within the system.”

The National Commission for Human Rights suggestions

In light of its findings, the EEDA urges the Greek state to take immediate and decisive actions to address the critical issues identified at the CCAC) in Samos:

  • To promptly ensure a reliable and sufficient water supply for all international protection applicants within the CCAC, highlighting the severe health risks posed by the current water shortage.
  • To guarantee the prompt registration of individuals who have recently arrived on the island and are housed in the CCAC under conditions resembling de facto detention, emphasising that protection from arbitrary detention is a fundamental human right.
  • To revise Article 40 of Law 4939/2022 to align with the protections afforded by European Union law, and to reassess the practice of universally and indiscriminately confining all newly arrived asylum seekers from third countries within the CCAC.
  • To ensure dignified living conditions for all residents of the Samos CCAC, taking into account individual needs and vulnerabilities. The use of communal spaces (such as dining areas) or administrative zones as living quarters, even on a temporary basis, fails to meet even the most basic living standards.
  • To provide adequate and appropriate medical care to the CCAC’s residents, prioritising this as an urgent necessity. Newly arrived individuals from third countries often arrive in a state of heightened vulnerability due to their migratory experiences, including exposure to war, persecution, violence, or torture in their countries of origin, which may result in various mental and physical traumas. Moreover, certain individuals may be in an especially vulnerable position due to age, gender, pregnancy, or other factors as recognised by law. Identifying and offering suitable medical and psychosocial support to these vulnerable groups is both a legal and moral duty of the State.
  • Ensure the availability of interpreters for administrative or judicial processes involving third-country nationals. This includes providing interpreters in the main languages of the immigrant population coming to Greece, such as Syrian, Afghan, Palestinian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sudanese, Somali, Nigerian, etc., across various services including the Reception Service, Asylum Service, Police and Coast Guard, Courts, and Hospitals. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has long stressed the vital role of proper interpretation in a language understood by the third-country national as a fundamental prerequisite for the protection of their basic rights.
  • Guarantee swift access to the asylum process and ensure the fair and efficient assessment of claims.
  • Accelerate the staffing of reception and hospitality facilities on the islands and mainland with permanent employees across all required specialities to adequately meet the needs of the resident population. Relying on fixed-term contracts undermines the continuity and retention of expertise, leading to service delivery gaps due to the transient nature of the workforce and the lengthy recruitment processes.
  • Reevaluate the design and operational guidelines of Closed Controlled Access Centres on the islands to make them more accommodating for the immigrant and refugee populations. This entails considering the backgrounds of individuals who have endured war, extreme poverty, or persecution, and ensuring the structures promote a sense of security as well as a welcoming environment that fosters trust in the authorities for smoother integration into host societies.
  • Commit to the effective investigation of all allegations of police brutality and racist violence, ensuring a transparent and accountable process.

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