MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES

In the absence of healthcare provision by the authorities, the objective is to provide medical and humanitarian assistance to migrants and asylum seekers held in detention in the entry and exit points of the country. The overall objective is to improve the physical and mental integrity of migrants and asylum seekers and to contribute to restoring their human dignity by responding to their direct medical and humanitarian needs.

Specific objectives include:

1. Monitoring the medical and humanitarian needs of migrants at entry/exit points via regular assessments.
2. Create capacity response mechanism within 48 hours upon verification of needs.
3. Consider intervention that includes: a) medical screening and treatment (primary health care), b) provide psychosocial support if basic needs covered, c) liaise with the public health system when needed, d) establish a referral system based on the available local resources (secondary health care), e) involve Local actors when needed: food, shelter, legal advice, f) non food items: consider the distribution of hygiene kits and sleeping bags, temporary shelter (if needed).
4. Follow up migration changing routes, and flows (through exploratory missions and information sharing with other actors).
5. Share know-how with other involved actors such as, Governmental Organizations or NGOs.

Migrants and asylum seekers held in detention.

2008 - present

MSF response focuses mainly at emergency levels providing primary health care, mental health care and necessary non food items such as sleeping bags, hygiene kits, and clothing in order to ensure that essential primary health care and basic needs are met and is taking care of the referrals to the hospitals.

1. Local authorities
2. NGOs

Programs implemented by qualified staff of Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Entry and exit points (mainly Northern Greece and Aegean islands).

Since the beginning of the programs, MSF teams have been providing medical and humanitarian assistance to migrants and asylum seekers held in detention since 2008, in the absence of healthcare provision by the authorities. Over this time, MSF has provided 9,921 individual medical and mental health consultations and run seven separate projects: (i) Pagani on Lesvos island (summer of 2008 and 2009), (ii) Fylakio in Evros; Venna in Rodopi (Aug 2009-April 2010), (iii) Tychero and Soufli in Evros (Dec 2010-April 2011), (iv) Fylakio Tychero, Soufli, Feres in Evros; Venna in Rodopi (Aug 2011-Oct 2012), (v) Fylakio, Tychero, Soufli, Feres in Evros; Komotini in Rodopi; Paranesti in Drama (Dec 2012-April 2013), (vi) Police stations on Lesvos island (Oct-Dec 2012), (vii) Fylakio, Soufli and Feres in Evros; Komotini and Iasmos in Rodopi; (Oct 2013-Mar 2014).

During 2013 - 2014, MSF teams carried out 5,441 medical consultations, made 365 referrals to secondary health facilities and made 100 referrals for dental care with the voluntary support of the Evros Dental Association. MSF teams provided, also, scabies treatment to more than 1,500 migrants. Twenty-two migrants were released on medical grounds as a result of MSF’s response. MSF teams also distributed essential relief items to detained migrants, including 6,662 personal hygiene kits and 1,648 sets of clothes, shoes and sleeping bags.

In Greece, MSF has been providing medical and humanitarian aid, based on private funds, to immigrants and refugees since 1996. Since 2008, the organization has responded to emergency medical and humanitarian needs of migrants and asylum seekers in detention. During this period, MSF has been able to meet needs and provide medical care to groups that did not have access and accessibility to health. The experience and expertise gained as a result of these actions is particularly important and has given the chance to the Greek section, in cooperation with other MSF offices, to reset the interest of the international organization on the issue of immigration.