legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

Child care
Children who need supplementary language classes may attend afternoon classes at the
Intercultural Centres, which are usually located in the areas where most refugees live. The costs
for these classes are covered by the Greek Council for Refugees. The Lavrion reception centre
also offers language classes for children to prepare them for school attendance.
Child care centres accept the children of asylum seekers and refugees. As these children are
considered as a vulnerable population group, they are usually given priority by the social
services. In addition, the Lavrion reception centre offers medical care and child care education.
Unaccompanied minors
Unaccompanied minor asylum seekers have very limited access to the Greek social institutions
for minors. Out of the 28 unaccompanied minors registered by the GCR in 1999, only three were
accepted by the private association “Children's smile”.
Other Greek state or non-state institutions contacted have refused to take charge of other minors
due to lack of places. At present, the GCR covers the costs of their accommodation in youth
hostels in Athens and for their meals.
Health/sickness
There is no compulsory medical check-up on arrival but this will be required before the granting of
a work permit. Following this, the applicant is issued with a medical certificate stating that he/she
does not suffer from any contagious disease.
Asylum seekers are entitled to free medical care and hospital treatment in accordance with the
Presidential Decree No. 266/1999. This is also provided for under Section 24(2)c of the Aliens
Act, as modified in December 1996 according to which all asylum seekers, refugees and those
granted humanitarian status, have access to state hospitals for free hospitalisation, medical
examinations and provision of medication.
If some specific medicines are not available from the state hospitals, efforts to find them are
made by the Médecins du Monde and Médecins sans Frontières.
Freedom of movement
Asylum seekers can move freely within the Greek territory, provided that they keep the Aliens
Department of the Police informed of their whereabouts.
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Greece