”The situation on the ground is still extremely challenging. The number of arrivals have decreased in the last couple of weeks, but it is still higher than this time last year’’” NORCAP expert Ioannis Tavridis reports from Evros in Greece.
The current refugee and migrant crisis in Europe has posed major challenges to Greece as the main point of entry to the region for refugees and migrants. The continuous influx of migrants and refugees requires an increased capacity in reception and registration of arrivals.
"There is a great need to organise and strengthen the reception capacities in order to meet the needs of the refugees and migrants arriving'' says Tavridis. He is a part of the new project between NORCAP and First Reception Service – an entity under the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform in Greece.
Providing a dignified reception for the refugees
"Despite enormous efforts from various actors such as Greek volunteers and international humanitarian actors in 2015, the number of reception centres required and the standards for systems and routines related to these facilities have not been able to meet the needs of the refugees and migrants arriving. This is a major challenge for everyone working to give the refugees and migrants a dignified reception and the help they need the most.'' Tavridis explains.
NORCAP will contribute to strengthen the reception of refugees and migrants by initially deploying Tavridis and three other NORCAP experts to existing FRS centres in Evros and Lesvos. The project is expected to be expanded with additional deployments in the coming weeks.
More resources needed
"I am proud to be part of such an important initiative, but even though this is a great project and a great beginning, we need more resources before the summer season kicks off, and the number of refugees and migrants increases once again", Tavridis says.
In the ongoing start-up phase of the project, Tavridis, who is familiar with FRS and well versed in reception management, is deployed as Special Adviser to ensure the integration of NORCAP experts into the FRS system and to support the development of a strategic plan for the project.
This week, Ioannis Tavridis also hosted a visit from the Deputy Head of Mission from the Norwegian Embassy in Athens, Roger Jørgensen, who came to see Fylakio First Reception Centre (FRC) in Evros and meet the NORCAP experts currently deployed there.
