According to the UN Refugee Agency, Greece remained one of the largest operations in Europe in 2019. In the second half of 2019, Greece experienced a significant rise in new arrivals, particularly by sea, exacerbating already difficult conditions on the islands in and around the island reception and identification centres (RICs), which resulted in the highest levels violence seen within the centres since 2016. At the end of 2019, Greece hosted approximately 186,200 refugees and asylum-seekers. 2019 saw an increase in new arrivals, with over 74,600 people (80% by sea, 20% by land) compared to the 50,500 that arrived in 2018 (64% by sea, 36% by land). The sharp increase in sea arrivals occurred largely during the second half of 2019. Recognition rates increased from 49% in 2018 to 56% in 2019.
In January 2020 4,000
people arrived, more than half of those who arrived last year. They are mostly
families with children from Afghanistan and Syria. 1,850 arrived on the islands
and 850 at the land borders. In January, UNHCR worked through 33 partners:
UNICEF, ARSIS, Iliaktida, INTERSOS, NOSTOS, Praksis, Solidarity Now, Catholic
Relief Services, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies, METAdrasi, the Greek Council for Refugees, the Network for
Children’s Rights, Doctors of the World, the Association for Regional
Development and Mental Health (EPAPSY), Diotima, Faros, International Rescue
Committee, International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), Hellenic
Theatre/Drama & Education Network (TENet), UNOPS, Perichoresis, OMNES and
the Local Authorities of Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Livadia, Herakleion,
Trikala, Nea Filadelfia – Nea Chalkidona, Karditsa, Larissa, Tripoli and Tilos. By the end of 2020, some 50,000
refugees and asylum-seekers are expected to remain in the country. UNHCR will
work closely with local and national authorities to support the design and
implementation of integration policies and increase opportunities for refugees
to become self-reliant. FUNDING (AS OF 11 FEBRUARY 2020) USD
275.2 M requested for the Greece Operation.
