The decision comes after observing the practical implications of the 18 March Agreement between the European Union (EU) and Turkey. NRC is suspending most of its work inside the Vial 'Hotspot', including camp management support functions, direct distributions of water, blankets and clothes to refugees and migrants, and maintenance of water and sanitation services. NRC is deeply concerned at the detention of children and other vulnerable groups and considers the overall reception conditions to be inappropriate.
"After an already traumatic experience making the dangerous sea crossing from Turkey to Greece, refugees, including children, are then detained in increasingly overcrowded conditions and provided with very little information. This is understandably causing great distress. They ask why, and no one can answer them. Is this really the best we can do?", Homsy said.
In order to ensure that refugees are able to exercise their right to seek fair asylum procedures, NRC has decided to continue maintaining an interim protection presence at the Vial 'Hotspot'. All other activities will be handed over to the remaining actors, including the responsible authorities.
"What we are seeing is a potential protection crisis unfolding in front of our eyes unless urgent steps are taken to ensure refugees arriving today on Chios are able to access full and fair asylum procedures," said Homsy.
Since 20 March over 1,100 refugees and migrants have arrived, yet it appears no contingency arrangements are in place to safely and decently accommodate further arrivals. NRC is concerned that when the capacity is reached, the refugees and migrants will risk being detained in overcrowded, unsafe and undignified conditions for indeterminate periods of time.
"The pace and speed at which this deal has been put into effect has not allowed the Greek authorities adequate time to react to the changes, nor has the extra capacity and support promised from the EU had time to materialize. We are seeing in front of our eyes the real human implications of this," said Homsy.
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