Migrant and refugee arrivals to Greece surged to a five-year high in 2024, with more than 57,300 people entering the country in the first 11 months of the year
More than 13,000 children arrived in Greece this year by sea, about 50% than last year
New report launched ahead of International Migrants Day, from Save the Children and the Greek Council for Refugees, highlights the harsh realities faced by children in Greece’s refugee camps, including childhoods lost to systemic neglect.
ATHENS, 11 December2024 – Child arrivals to Greece more than doubled in 2024 when migration hit a five-year high, with children in remote refugee camps reporting alarming conditions, including a lack of protection services, cockroaches, and poor-quality food, Save the Children said.
Greece, a gateway to Europe for people arriving from the Middle East and Africa, saw the number of migrants and refugees rise by 35% in the first 11 months of 2024, reaching 57,363—the highest number since 2019, according to an analysis of UNHCR data. Among them, more than 13,000 children arrived by sea, a 50% increase from last year. The number of unaccompanied and separated children also doubled, reaching 3,000, compared to 1,490 in 2023.
However, for many migrant and refugee children, the dangerous journey to Greece ends in dismal conditions in remote camps despite the European Union and Greek authorities' obligation to ensure the camps are safe places where children can grow up while they wait for asylum.
Families interviewed by Save the Children and the Greek Council for Refugees between April and July 2024, described living spaces with mold, food served past its expiry date, and a severe lack of safe, child-friendly spaces and child protection services. Some children interviewed also reported feeling isolated and unsafe, along with cases of discrimination.
Samuel*, 13, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, has lived with his mother and younger brother in Ritsona camp, about 70 kms from Athens, for nine months. He described life as dangerous and isolating:
“When they feel you’ve done something, they come with knives — very big knives—with their friends and they beat you. [Once] they threw rocks at us, then came to our house. We stayed inside for a week because we were scared.”
Though Samuel has made some friends at school, he described frequent discrimination: “[Some] Greeks ask a lot of questions about my hair; they touch me as if I’m an animal. I tell them not to, but they touch me again. Maybe because I’m black, they haven’t seen black people before.”
The challenges reported extend beyond violence and poor living conditions. Families also shared experiences of children lacking access to schooling and adequate mental health support, contributing to anxiety, frustration, and a sense of exclusion among some children interviewed.
Amira,* 16, who fled Afghanistan with her family, described life in Katsikas camp as “suffocating” and said the conditions in the isolated camp are taking a toll on her younger brother: “He doesn’t have many friends, and he feels so alone. We’ve taken him to see a psychologist in the camp, but it’s just a quick meeting and then ‘goodbye’. He’s so sad, he bites his nails. They told us it’s because of stress—from our journey and everything. My brother, I think, can’t take it, and as a child, of course, he wants a normal life like the other children.”
These testimonies are part of the new report from Save the Children and the Greek Council of Refugees, ‘“It does not feel like real life”: children’s everyday life in Greek refugee camps’, which highlights critical failures in Greece’s reception system and calls for urgent reforms to protect vulnerable children.
Willy Bergogné, Save the Children Europe’s Director and EU Representative, said:
“Greece continues to be a critical entry point for children on the move, as the climate crisis, new and protracted conflicts, and widespread hunger drive more children from their homes around the world.
“Children fleeing humanitarian crises arrive in Greece hoping for safety but find themselves trapped in yet another crisis. Reception centres meant to shelter them, have been places of fear and isolation, with violence, alarming living conditions, and a lack of support services replacing the protection these children have the right to. Refugee and migrant children need safety and protection, not more suffering.
“The EU and Greek authorities have a moral and legal obligation to act urgently to improve the conditions in the camps and protect these children and ensure they have access to safety, adequate services, and dignity.”
Lefteris Papagiannakis, Director of the Greek Council for Refugees, said:
“The situation in the reception facilities is not new, but what is surprising is that after almost 10 years of enhanced experience in managing the reception of asylum seekers in Greece, we’re witnessing an ongoing downgrading in essential service provision, including services for children.
“This new report is the first time a study has focused on the perceptions of life in the camps from a child-centred perspective and brings at the forefront their voices, as children within families are often believed to be in a better situation than children arrived alone, but that’s not always the case.”
Save the Children and the Greek Council for Refugees are urging Greek authorities to take immediate action to improve living conditions for children in refugee camps. This means ensuring access to essential services and prioritising safety and well-being.
The two organisations also call for a shift from camps to urban reception models, and urge Greek authorities to prioritise early integration of asylum-seeking children and their families from the moment they arrive.
Save the Children is calling on the authorities in charge of implementing the EU Pact on Migration & Asylum to prioritise the protection of children and take steps to address and minimise any risks that could harm their rights. The decisions made by national authorities regarding border procedures, child protection measures, and monitoring systems will make a major difference in the lives and wellbeing of children and families seeking safety in Europe.
The Greek Council for Refugees is the oldest NGO for refugee rights in the country. It provides legal and psychosocial support to refugees and also provides interpretation and educational support.
Save the Children works with refugee and migrant children inside and outside of Europe, aiming to support vulnerable children with the greatest needs.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
As of December 1, 2024, 57,363 arrived in Greece from the start of the year, a 33% increase compared to the same period in 2023. According to an analysis of UNHCR data, more than 13,000 children arrived by sea in the first 11 months of 2024, a 50% increase from the same period last year. The number of unaccompanied and separated children also doubled in 2024, reaching 3,000, compared to 1,490 in 2023.
About the Report:
Conducted between April and July 2024, the report draws on the lived experiences of children and caregivers in ten mainland refugee camps. It provides a vital perspective on the systemic shortcomings of Greece’s reception system and the urgent need for reform. These testimonies reflect the experiences of the individuals interviewed and are not representative of all camp residents.
