Greece is grappling with a refugee “children’s emergency” as the number of unaccompanied minors entering the country has surged, sparking concerns over insufficient “safe zones” to house them.
In 2024, a new trafficking route from Libya to Crete has contributed to a sharp rise in arrivals. NGOs are urging Greek authorities to implement emergency measures to transfer children to protective shelters or other EU countries.
“This is a children’s emergency of a scale we haven’t seen in years,” said Sofia Kouvelaki, head of the Home Project, a nonprofit supporting refugee children in Athens.
The UNHCR reports that child arrivals have doubled compared to last year, with over 13,000 minors reaching Greece by sea in the first 11 months of 2024. Unaccompanied and separated children arriving by land have also increased significantly, from 1,490 in 2023 to about 3,000 this year.
Greek Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos warned that migration pressures are likely to persist into 2025 due to ongoing geopolitical unrest, wars, and the climate crisis. He stated that migration flows had risen dramatically since late 2023, with 60,000 people expected to enter Greece by year-end. Camps on Aegean islands are already at full capacity.
The situation is particularly dire for children. Hundreds on frontline islands like Samos, Leros, and Kos lack clothes, shoes, and essential services. Nationwide, an estimated 1,500 unaccompanied minors are left to fend for themselves as government cuts have reduced the availability of protective shelters.
Overcrowding and inadequate facilities have led to rising incidents of violence and abuse. Recently, an Egyptian teenager was gang-raped, beaten, and burned at the Malakasa refugee camp outside Athens, sparking outrage. Authorities said plans to create 500 additional sheltered places for children are pending funding.
Deputy Migration Minister Sofia Voultepsi highlighted the trafficking of minors from Egypt, where parents are convinced to send their children to Europe for work. “Traffickers transport them to Libya, where they are tortured and familiarised with organised crime,” she said. Arrivals from Tobruk have increased by 400% this year.
Aid organisations, including Save the Children, have criticised Greece’s reception system for critical failures. Overcrowded camps, a lack of interpreters, and delayed EU funding have left children vulnerable, with their asylum requests often delayed.
A recent report by the Greek Council for Refugees and Save the Children condemned the “alarming” living conditions for minors in refugee camps, calling for immediate action.
“Children fleeing crises arrive in Greece seeking safety but face yet another crisis,” said Willy Bergogne, Europe director at Save the Children. “The EU and Greek authorities have a moral and legal obligation to act urgently to improve conditions and protect these children.”
NGOs have called for prioritising the integration of child asylum seekers and enforcing robust child-protection measures to address this growing humanitarian crisis.
