Two Greek NGOs tabled a complaint on Tuesday with the Supreme Court of Greece calling for the rescue of 50 Syrian migrants, including 3 pregnant women and 12 children, from an islet on the Evros River, in Greece’s borders with Turkey. The Greek Council for Refugees and HumanRights360 said the …
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Council of Europe slams Greece’s deportations and returns bill
The Council of Europe has slammed Greece’s deportations and returns bill noting it should align with human rights standards. The CoE called on the Greek government to not obstruct the work of NGOs, and the Parliament to reconsider elements of the bill. Council of Europe statement on Greece “The Greek …
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Only 18 NGOs allowed to operate within migrants & refugees centers
Only 18 out of 40 non-governmental organizations operating in migrants and refugees hosting structures have applied to register in the new registry and were granted the right to continue their work. The NGOs that were certified in the old registry of the Interior Ministry had a deadline to register again …
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Greek state takes over management of asylum facilities from NGOs
Twenty-eight facilities hosting asylum applicants on the Greek mainland will become legal entities and come under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Migration and the Deputy Minister of Finance, the Migration Ministry said on Wednesday. The facilities will thus all come under the management of the state instead of that …
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Lesvos: Fire at refugee center as attacks against NGOs continue
A fire broke out at a refugee center facility on the island of Lesvos late on Saturday evening, totally destroying the facility that was offering education and workshops lesson to some 25,000 refugees. Communicty center OPne Happy Family is jsut a few meters away from the accommodation center Kara Tepe …
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Over 75 NGOs demand EU’s support at Greek border, islands decongestion
In an open letter to European Commission, European Council and heads of member states, over 70 NGOs demand EU support at Greek Border. They call for immediate action for the decongestion of the Aegean Islands following escalating violence and worsening humanitarian conditions for asylum seekers. 75 NGOs have now signed …
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Alt Migration Minister: “NGOs-Leeches set up over night to get EU funding”
Τhe Greek conservative government found a “scapegoat” for the Migration Crisis: the NGOs dealing with refugees and asylum seekers. Alternate Migration Minister, Giorgos Koumoutsakos, went to far to describe them as “leeches” that were “set up in one night in order to have access to EU funding.” Greek Migration Minister …
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Greece gives 10-day deadline to NGOs dealing with refugees to register
Greece has issued a 10-day deadline to NGOs dealing with refugees to apply for official registration. Those NGOs that will fail to do so will have no right to continue their activities in the country, the Ministry for Citizen Protection said in a statement. The move comes as the government …
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European Commission releases data on Funds to Greece to deal with Migration
The European Commission has published a list of recipients of funds to Greece to deal with the migration crisis. An amount totaling 1.6 billion euros has been allocated to non-governmental organizations, international organizations and Greek authorities, even though only half of it has been disbursed. The Commission released €650 million …
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NGOs describe conditions at Moria refugee camp as “shameful”
More than 17,000 refugees and migrants are crammed into reception centers, camps, on the Greek islands in conditions civil society organizations describe as “shameful.” In a joint statement 19 NGOs urge Greek authorities to take action beyond focusing on one camp. Especially, the living conditions in Moria camp on the …
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FYROM NGOs claim Greece committed “genocide against Macedonian minority”
FYROM NGO are claiming that Greece has committed human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide” against its Macedonian minority since 1913. In a joint statement of several FYROM NGOs that oppose negotiations on Macedonia name issue to Turkey’s state Anadolu News Agency , “slammed Greece and global …
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EU Migration Commissioner urges NGOs to manage funds with transparency
EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos urged non-governmental organizations involved in the care of refugees and migrants to manage funds with more transparency. “NGOs must manage available funds with transparency,” Avramopoulos said on Wednesday and called on international organizations operating in the country “to step up their efforts to provide immediate …
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Refugee camps in winter: NGOs join forces and urge Greece to take action
More than 60,000 refugees and migrants exposed to snow, rain and cold. Summer tents covered by snow. Pictures that shocked the world. Who is to blame? the EU Commission that sent the funds? the Greek government? The international refugee agencies? The NGOs? Several non-governmental organizations, volunteers’ groups and networks working …
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Moria: Blame Game as refugees and migrants might freeze to death on Lesvos
Who is responsible for the inhuman living conditions amid severe snow weather for thousands of refugees and migrants stuck on the islands of Lesvos? Everybody in charge – even thought all sides involved zealously exercise the famous Blame Game as the lives of thousands at the freezing-cold hot spot of …
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Frontex accuses NGOs of collusion with migrant smugglers
The EU border agency Frontex has been accusing non-governmental organizations and charities involved in sea rescue of collusion with migrant smugglers. According to confidential reports seen by the Financial Times, the Frontex charges open up a long-simmering dispute between EU officials and NGOs operating in the Mediterranean Sea over how …
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Lesvos: Customs Authorities seize several cars operated by NGOs
Several vehicles operated by international non-governmental organizations on the island of Lesvos have been seized by the Greek customs authorities. According to Athens News Agency, the vehicles had been violating Greek and European laws, according to which license plates should be changed if a vehicle operates for more than six …
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Lesvos in Migration Crisis: Situation at risk of getting out of control with protests, attacks and unwanted NGO’s
Hundreds of residents of Moria village and surrounding areas on the island of Lesvos took to the streets on Monday morning protesting the presence of refugees and migrants outside the hot spot of the same name. The protest rally turned really ugly when extremists from the ultra right-wing Golden Dawn …
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Greek Foreign Ministry starts to collect funds from NGOs for projects never materialized
Finally Greek Foreign Ministry started to collect back funds given to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for aid projects that were never materialized. In a control project that started in January 2015 and investigated the time period from the year 2000 until 2010, the General Directorate of International Development Cooperation (Hellenic Aid) …
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Idomeni: PM Tsipras blasts FYROM over Sunday’s violence & “solidarity activists” for inciting refugees
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras blasted FYROM over the extensive use of violence against refugees and migrants on Sunday, when police and army units of the neighboring country fired teargas, rubber bullets and stun grenades for at least 5 hours within Greek territory.”It is a great shame for Europe,” Tsipras …
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EU approves €700mn Aid package, money to go to UN-Agencies, NGOs & refugees as ‘coupons’
Unprecedented! The European Union approved a 700-million euro Humanitarian Adi packed mainly for Greece, but the money will not be given to the State to deal with. It will go International Agencies like the UN and to Non-Governmental-Organizations, while “part of the amount will be given directly to refugees in …
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