Mouzalas inaugurates new center for child migrants
Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas Tuesday inaugurated a new center for unaccompanied migrant minors in Paiania, east of Athens, saying the facility would host up to 100 children, while noting that hundreds of others remain in reception centers across the country.
The center was set up with funding from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and is to be run by local authorities and the Doctors of the World charity. The initiative came following widespread criticism of Greece’s treatment of migrants, particularly unaccompanied children.
According to the IOM, there are 2,400 unaccompanied minors in Greece, of whom 1,567 live in special hostels. Twenty-five children currently living in police precincts will be moved to other accommodation by the end of the week, Mouzalas said.
State Minister Alekos Flabouraris Tuesday chaired a meeting on immigration strategy where it was decided that migrants will be gradually moved out of an overcrowded facility on the island of Samos, while there are plans to build a second facility to detain migrants who commit violations.
