By Sheila Cross | Team Leader
Services Reach Crisis Point for Asylum Seekers in Greece
The situation for asylum seekers in Greece is becoming increasingly dire. Severe overcrowding in many of the island and mainland Closed Controlled Access Centres (CCACs) has pushed basic infrastructure beyond its limits. People are living in unsanitary conditions with minimal access to medical care, heightened exposure to violence, and—far too often—forced to shelter in tents or makeshift structures that offer no protection from harsh weather.
To make matters worse, since October 2024, cash assistance payments—meant to provide a modest allowance for daily needs—have been completely suspended for residents of the CCACs. This leaves individuals with no means to purchase hygiene products or supplement their diets. Many must rely exclusively on camp-provided food, which is frequently insufficient and, in some cases, inedible. The result is widespread suffering and a deepening crisis of dignity and basic human rights.
At the same time, the State continues to allocate millions of euros to border fortification and to testing surveillance technologies—particularly in the Samos CCAC—raising serious concerns about violations of asylum seekers’ rights and the growing gap between security spending and humanitarian support.
Our Services Under Pressure
Essential services—such as information, legal aid, health care and even basic food and accommodation—are overwhelmed, and in many locations, practically inaccessible. In this vacuum, ASsIST provides a critical lifeline. We offer multilingual information, referrals, and legal support to help people navigate the complex asylum process and connect to whatever limited services remain available.
Challenges We Face
As conditions deteriorate, our work becomes more urgent—but also harder to sustain. Like many non-profits, ASsIST.CH faces an increasingly competitive and shrinking pool of international funding, as donors respond to multiple crises across the Middle East and Africa.
In 2024, we made a strategic decision to close our physical offices to reduce overheads and free up resources for direct service provision. Because most of our services are delivered remotely—via phone, messaging apps, and digital platforms—this change did not impact our ability to provide support. Where needed, personal interviews remain possible in secure, accessible locations.
We are actively pursuing cost-sharing partnerships and new sources of support. Still, securing sustainable funding remains both a significant challenge and an essential priority.
Your Support Makes It Possible
Thanks to your generosity during our Giving Tuesday campaign, we’ve been able to continue our work—albeit under great strain. Every donation, no matter the amount, goes directly to providing free legal and information services to people seeking safety and justice.
Every dollar, every euro, every cent counts.
100% of your donations fund free, multilingual legal and information services for asylum seekers in Greece.
Your support helps us make justice accessible to those who need it most—and keeps hope alive for people in urgent need of protection.
Thank you for standing with us during this time of unprecedented need.
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