EU announces new €115 million emergency support to improve conditions for refugees in Greece
Today the European Commission has stepped up its funding to improve living conditions for refugees, migrants and asylum seekers in Greece, with €115 million in new funding for humanitarian organisations operating in the country. It brings total funding under the Emergency Support Instrument to €198 million.
"The European Commission continues to put solidarity into action to better manage the refugee crisis, in close cooperation with the Greek Government. The new funding has the key aim to improve conditions for refugees in Greece, and make a difference ahead of the upcoming winter. Over the past months, we have significantly contributed to restore dignified living conditions through our humanitarian partners. Together, we will continue our work until we reach our target", said Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos i Stylianides, who announced the new funding at the Thessaloniki International Fair in Greece today, together with the Greek Alternate Minister for Migration, Ioannis Mouzalas.
The additional funding is already in the process of being contracted. As agreed between Commissioner Stylianides and Minister Mouzalas, it will focus on four priorities:
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A)Improvement of existing shelters and construction of new ones in the camp facilities ahead of the upcoming winter. At the same time improvement of sanitation conditions and provision of other infrastructure such as heating.
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B)Delivery of direct assistance to refugees through cash/voucher schemes. This will help refugees to cover the basic needs of their families, such as food, in a dignified manner and at the same time support the local economy.
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C)Enable refugee children to access education
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D)Help unaccompanied minors who are especially vulnerable and need special care and protection.
The new emergency support comes on top of the €83 million the European Commission has already provided earlier this year to international organisations and NGOs to address the most pressing humanitarian needs in Greece, including shelter, primary health care, psycho-social support, improved hygiene conditions as well as informal education and safe spaces for children and women.
Overall, the European Union is reaching over €1 billion of support to Greece in tackling current migration challenges.
Background:
In urgent and exceptional circumstances such as the increased influx of refugees in Europe, the European Commission can fund humanitarian aid for people in need within the EU territory through the Emergency Support Instrument. Until 2018, up to €700 million of EU-funding will be made available via partner organisations, such as UN agencies, the Red Cross and non-governmental organisations.
The Commission's humanitarian support complements other EU funding instruments which have already been providing significant financial resources for assistance in Greece such as the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF i) the Internal Security Fund (ISF i), the European Fund for the Most Deprived (FEAD i) and the EU Health Programme. It is also complementary to the voluntary offers for material assistance by states participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
For more information:
Factsheet: Emergency support within the EU
Factsheet: EU Civil Protection Mechanism
Council Regulation (EU) 2016/369 on the provision of emergency support within the Union
The European Agenda on Migration
Website of Commissioner Stylianides
IP/16/2986
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