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Closed centers on Greece’s islands to “operate in parallel” with hotspots

The Greek government plans to operate the pre-departure centers on the five Aegean islands in parallel with the existing reception centers (hotspots.) This is said in a letter by Minister for Citizen Protection to the European Commissioner for Human Rights. In November, the Greek government has said that the hotspots of Moria, Lesvos, VIAL,Chios and Vathi, Samos would gradually close once the new closed centers open.

Responding to questions regarding the new closed centers, Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, said in a letter to Commissioner, Dunja Mijatovic that “the government is planning to have a facility on each of the five islands, to operate in parallel with existing reception centers.”

Excerpt from Chrysochoidis letter dated Nov 29, 2019

Chrysochoidis’ letter was published by Commissioner Mijatovic on December 3.

On Nov 25, the Human Rights Commissioner had sent a letter to Michalis Chrysochoidis, and the Alternate Minister for Migration Policy of Greece, Giorgos Koumoutsakos, concerning the plans to transfer migrants from the Aegean islands to the mainland and set up closed reception centres on those islands.

The Commissioner requested information about the deprivation of liberty regime that will be applicable to the new facilities that the Government plans to build, whether the government intends to move all the people who have not yet been transferred to the mainland at the time of their opening to the new closed centres, and if all new arrivals will be housed in these facilities..

The Commissioner also asked for clarifications concerning the decision to opt for closed reception and identification centres, the safeguards that the Greek government intends to put in place in order to ensure that detention is used as a measure of last resort and details about the government’s plans as regards alternatives to detention on the islands, notably for vulnerable people, including children.

Lastly, pending the implementation of the announced measures, the Commissioner requested information about any immediate measures to improve the living conditions of those who remain in and around the existing facilities on the Aegean islands.

The Commissioners letter and Chrysochoidis response are the website of Council of Europe/Commissioner for Human Rights 

PS I hope it’s an “unfortunate formulation” otherwise some islands will declare a revolt or something…

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