Athens - The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), aiming at responding to the growing needs of accommodation places for migrant children in Greece have supported the creation of 470 places in shelters for unaccompanied children.

Over the past two years, through MFR fund of Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) funding, IOM in coordination with the Greek authorities has refurbished facilities to be used as long-term accommodation shelters for unaccompanied migrant children (UMC), significantly contributing to their safety, well-being and protection. The CEB funded projects supported the refurbishment works and small-scale repairs in a total of twelve facilities in different locations in Greece.

“Greece is making significant steps towards establishing a functional system for the support to UMCs and the establishing of well-structured accommodation sites is an important part of that process. The Council of Europe Development Bank has been a key partner in this endeavor; thanks to its support, more children today have accommodation and access to services and Greece can count on an increased number of places available in shelters”, said Gianluca Rocco, Chief of IOM Mission in Greece.

More specifically, IOM established collaborations by signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with:

• the Social Welfare Center of Epirus (KKPPH) – an administrative part of the Ministry of Labour as to reconstruct 2 (two) public buildings in Epirus (Konitsa & Pogoniani region), where 40 places for UMC were created at each building respectively (80 in total).
• the Integration Center for Migrant Workers - Ecumenical Refugee Programme (KSTM – ERP) of the Church of Greece Non-Profit Organization, through reconstruction of 5 (five) buildings. Upon the completion of the reconstruction works in the five buildings with 40 places each, all are located at Attica region, a total of 200 UMC places were created.
• the NGO European Expression where IOM refurbished 1 (one) building in Sepolia area at the center of Athens with a total capacity of 40 UMC places. The shelter is currently run by the NGO European Expression.

In addition, and since January 2019, IOM enhanced the infrastructure and living conditions in six shelters for UMC run by IOM Greece, allowing the continuation of their operation under national funding, by providing small scale repairs, additional furniture, electrical appliances, and equipment for recreational activities. The capacity of the six shelters is 150 UMC places.

All repairs and interventions were implemented under the framework of REFRAME and U-CARE projects with the support of MFR fund of Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB).

For more information, please contact Christine Nikolaidou, 

cnikolaidou@iom.int, 210 9919040 ext 248