Published : 27-01-2022
Greek authorities have been accused of prompting a hunger crisis in refugee camps, leaving people with no access to food.
Martha Roussou of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), in a report by The Guardian said, "It is unthinkable that people are going hungry in Greece. Through no fault of their own they have fallen through the cracks and all because of a problem created by gaps in legislation and policy.”
As per IRC estimates, 40 per cent of camp residents have been denied things of basic need. This is because of the administration’s decision to halt food provisions.
There are 16,559 people living in camps across Greece, comprising people who are waiting for their asylum claims to be heard and those who have had their claims accepted or denied. It has emerged that new catering contracts for the provision of food in these camps provide enough food to feed just 10,213 people, covering only those still in the asylum procedure and not those who had their asylum claims accepted or rejected. This comes despite calls from the European Commission that the Greek government ensures all persons, particularly the vulnerable, receive food irrespective of their status.
Worryingly high numbers of children, who make up 40 per cent of the population residing in camps, are among those going hungry. Teachers in local primary schools have reported children turning up to school without having eaten, without even a snack to see them through the day.
Greek authorities have been accused of prompting a hunger crisis in refugee camps, leaving people with no access to food.
Martha Roussou of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), in a report by The Guardian said, "It is unthinkable that people are going hungry in Greece. Through no fault of their own they have fallen through the cracks and all because of a problem created by gaps in legislation and policy.”
As per IRC estimates, 40 per cent of camp residents have been denied things of basic need. This is because of the administration’s decision to halt food provisions.
There are 16,559 people living in camps across Greece, comprising people who are waiting for their asylum claims to be heard and those who have had their claims accepted or denied. It has emerged that new catering contracts for the provision of food in these camps provide enough food to feed just 10,213 people, covering only those still in the asylum procedure and not those who had their asylum claims accepted or rejected. This comes despite calls from the European Commission that the Greek government ensures all persons, particularly the vulnerable, receive food irrespective of their status.
Worryingly high numbers of children, who make up 40 per cent of the population residing in camps, are among those going hungry. Teachers in local primary schools have reported children turning up to school without having eaten, without even a snack to see them through the day.
