Chios is one of the Greek islands dotted around the Turkish coastline that marks out the border of the European Union. Up until 2015, the island was best known as the birthplace of the Greek poet Homer. In 2015, it became one of the main Greek island landing points for people fleeing war in Syria and Iraq, strife in Afghanistan and famine in Africa.
NRC has worked on Chios since October 2015 when thousands of desperate people arrived every day on the island to seek safety in Europe, providing food, education and assisting the Greek authorities with accommodation and shelter. The country was already struggling with a financial crisis of its own when European nations to the north of the country sealed their borders against the influx of displaced people, leaving tens of thousands stranded in one of the EU’s most troubled nations.
In March 2016, an agreement between the European Union and Turkey stemmed the numbers of people crossing to the islands. From midnight 20 March, thousands on the islands were prevented from leaving for the Greek mainland, pending a judgement on whether they would be deported back to Turkey to apply for asylum there. About 14,000 people are still stranded on the islands.
Now, the funding from the European Commission’s humanitarian aid branch for services on the islands is ending, precipitating NRC’s withdrawal from Chios. Funds will be channelled from the Commission to the Greek authorities. That’s an important step in terms of “ownership and long-term sustainability”, NRC Greece Country Director Gianmaria Pinto says. It doesn’t mean that the needs of people stranded on the islands have changed or abated.
“The time that has elapsed since the height of the refugee crisis in 2015 has provided the Greek authorities with the confidence, and now the funds, to fully assume the responsibilities for the thousands of people in need on the islands,” said Pinto. “This a natural and logical step and we have been working here to bring about this result – our concern is that this should be a durable and workable solution, not a temporary fix.”
As of July, the Greek authorities had still not shared a national plan with aid groups working on the islands, a factor which has raised concern that gaps in services could occur.
Since the beginning of 2017, more than 11,000 people have arrived on the Greek islands, with about 30 per cent of those landing on Chios. NRC, which has helped with repairs, provided blankets, tents, wash basins and detergent to those residing in the two main sites on Chios, will hand over that role to the UNHCR which is stepping in to support the Greek authorities in the transitional period.
The UN agency’s partner Samaritan’s Purse will also temporarily take over providing meals at the open site of Souda, a task that NRC has been responsible for NRC has been providing about 3,000 cooked meals per day to the residents of Souda, as well as distributing fruit and nuts as a supplement to those residing in the camp of Vial.
NRC’s partner in education on Chios, the Swiss NGO Be Aware and Share, has provided a safe space for children and youth deprived of education. With funding from the EU ending, BAAS have issued a call for donations in the hope it can keep operating its education programmes on a voluntary basis.
The fate of Agora, NRC’s community centre, is uncertain. Refugee volunteers worked with NRC’s local staff to set up Agora which became a hub for information and resources, used by other agencies for services including counselling and legal information. Agora provided language lessons, including Greek and English, arts and crafts, and computer lessons. Its closure may affect the provision of services that are keenly sought by displaced people living in difficult and uncertain conditions.
Vulnerable people living in makeshift conditions – whether a camp on the beach or a reception facility – have needs that must be addressed and it is important that this is the priority among those who are taking over, Pinto said.
“It’s important to avoid this handover being a band-aid solution that peels off in a few months’ time,” said Pinto. “In Chios, there are some 3,000 men, women and children at the moment. They need dignified living conditions, nutritious and regular food, healthcare, information and education. This is the priority.”
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