With the attention of Greek and European Union (EU) leaders focused firmly on the implementation of the recently agreed EU-Turkey deal, the plight of a large group of refugees left stranded in Greece in appalling conditions, and with little prospect of accessing international protection, is in danger of being forgotten.
While Greece has, with EU assistance, opened 31 temporary accommodation sites on the mainland with capacity for some 33,000 asylum seekers and migrants, the conditions in many of these overcrowded, under-resourced facilities, are inadequate for all but a few days. They certainly do not meet the standards required for the lengthy stays that migrants and asylum seekers are now consigned to.
