ATHENS (Parliament Politics Magazine): According to an aid organisation, 6,000 individuals, many of whom are children, are reported to be without food owing to service cuts.
The Greek government has been accused by the Humanitarian organisations of causing a hunger crisis in refugee camps by making “conscious” policy decisions that have left thousands without food.
They claimed that policies aimed at stemming migration flows had resulted in an untenable scenario in which refugees have been unable to sustain themselves for months.
The International Rescue Committee’s Martha Roussou said that it was incomprehensible that peopleĀ were going hungry in Greece.Ā They’ve slipped between the cracks through no fault of their own and it was all because of an issue caused by loopholes in legislation and policy.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) calculated that 40 percent of camp inhabitants ā roughly 6,000 refugees ā were denied basic necessities as a result of the centre-right administration’s decision to stop providing food to those who were no longer in the asylum process.
The number of children was alarmingly high. Minors account for roughly 40% of the population in state-run facilities.
The group based in New York made a statement saying that the teachers in local elementary schools had reported children arriving at school hungry, with only a snack to get them through the day.
It was revealed that, despite the fact thatĀ the camps on the Greek mainland had 16,559 refugees registered, fresh catering contracts had been approved to feed only 10,213 people, the group added.
The 33 aid groups urged that food be provided to all camp occupants, regardless of their legal status, in an open letter to Greek and EU officials. Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, responded by saying that the Greek government has been repeatedly urged to “guarantee that all persons, notably the vulnerable,” receive food and all other necessities.
Any indication of a hunger problem is vehemently denied by Athens’ migration ministry. Manos Logothetis, who is in charge of refugee arrivals, called the claim “ridiculous,” alleging it was made up by NGOs.
āIf there are 10 refugees in this country who have been denied food I will quit my job,ā he stated. If there had been a true hunger crisis, there would be riots and protests.Ā Every week they meet with the EU commissioner to reassure her that food was not a problem and that everyone who was expected to receive it, especially the most vulnerable and disabled, were receiving assistance.
However, the ministry underlined in a written statement that only persons appealing for international protection could be deemed beneficiaries qualified for material conditions of reception, and thus food, under Greek and European law.
