The right to health for children in migration Athanasia Retinioti, Social Worker MSc, Project Coordinator of the Accommodation Centre for Unaccompanied Minors Doctors of the World – Greece elaia.shelter@mdmgreece.gr

MdM international network’s reports focus on children’s in migration health and protection (November 2016)

2015 international observatory survey for 2016 report

MdM’s figures – focus on children 1.711 children were seen at MdM and partner clinics in Europe (16.6% of the total population): 1.102 in Greece, 312 in France and 175 in Belgium 53 children visited partner’s clinic in Turkey 771 in Europe (45.1% of the children surveyed) and 34 in Turkey were under five years old Of the 1.764 children seen in Europe and Turkey: 29.8% were not vaccinated against tetanus 35.8% were not vaccinated against hepatitis B 40.0% were not vaccinated against mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) 34,4% were not vaccinated against whooping cough (pertussis) 33.0% of parents in Europe and 60.0% in Turkey did not know where to go to get their children vaccinated

Focus on violence: Global figures and consequences for health Testimony Violence has frequently been reported on migration routes The journey is particularly dangerous for children A significant number of children, women and girls are travelling alone and are exposed to increased risks of all forms of violence MdM network urges governments to ensure safe migration channels to Europe, free from violence MdM network asks for specific measures to ensure protection of vulnerable groups such as children in migration(accommodation in safe places, specific and high-level protection measures etc.) As health professionals, MdM refuses the use of medical examinations which have no therapeutic benefit and are purely requested for migration control purposes. The only foreseeable outcome of such unreliable methodologies is the wrongful exclusion of minors on a regular basis

The situation of unaccompanied minors in Europe The consequences of EU-Turkey agreement Key Facts in Europe 275,010 # of child asylum-seekers in Europe between January and September 2016 (Eurostat, 25 October 2016) 83,803 # of child arrivals in Europe by sea between January and September 2016 (UNHCR, 11 November 2016) 700 # of estimated child fatalities at sea between January and November 2016 (IOM, 7 November 2016) 1,698 # of children relocated from Greece and Italy under the EU relocation scheme (IOM, 15 October 2016) Key Facts in Greece 2.300 estimated number of UASC currently in Greece 1.191 is the total number of places available in UASC shelters (including 124 vacant places in the process to be filled) 1.199 is the total number of UASC on waiting list for shelter 286 children in closed reception facilities 1.164 UASC live neglected, together with the adult population in poor conditions in official camps across the Greek mainland or in precarious conditions 4.521 total number of UASC referrals to EKKA(1/1/2016 – 17/11/2016)

Projects/Interventions – MdM Greece Child Care – MdM Greece Challenges: Prolonged detention at the points of entry for thousands of people. Detention of unaccompanied minors Identification / reception centers at hotspots have exceeded their capacity Delays on identification, registration and international protection procedures Poor and slow relocation process – delays on family reunification process Poor reception conditions in some camps. Non-adapted facilities continue to operate (shelter WASH, FOOD, NFI’s) Informal hosting facilities without operating regulations, unsuitable for winter. Treatment of vulnerable medical cases and mental health issues. Increase in mental health caseload. Child protection system challenged. Violence against children. The issue of guardianship Lack of accommodation centers for children Projects/Interventions – MdM Greece Childhood immunization Emergency assistance to moving population throughout Greece Mother & Child programs Mytilene First Reception Center Emergency support to assist most vulnerable migrants stranded in Greece Primary healthcare services and psychosocial support in the open reception centers for refugees Open Polyclinics Medical Mobile Units Accommodation Centers for families and unaccompanied minors

Testimony of police violence against children - MdM Greece “12 unaccompanied minor of Pakistani nationality were examined by the doctor and the psychologist of the medical team of MdM Greece in Moria Lesvos.  Τhe testimony of the unaccompanied minors and the related reports of the doctor and the psychologist of our Organization indicate that during a quarrel between unaccompanied minors, a stone hit one of the shift policemen. The officer entered ragging inside the wing and punched one of the minors while launching at the same time general threats against minors detained at the site. They reacted, which resulted in twelve of them to be transferred in handcuffs to the detention centre of the police department in Mytilene. The minors report that they were kept there from 3:00 a.m. until 14:00 the next day. During that period they were forced to sit most of the time at kneeling posture with their knees not touching the ground, while, if they changed position, due to fatigue or lack of sleep, the officers would hit them, with bottles of water.  During the clinical examination by MdM’s doctor, it was obvious that the minors were in a state of shock and suffering from physical/psychological depression. Some of them had abrasions on the wrists due to handcuffing and others in various parts of their body. Some reported headaches due to head strikes while one of them had a nosebleed.” Moria – Lesvos, MdM Greece

Our new challenge: MdM’s New Accommodation Centre for UASC in Athens with a capacity of 100 children MdM strongly opposes closed detention centers MdM decides to keep our care activities in order to support unaccompanied minors and to bear witness on their situation MdM faces a new situation with high proportion of children (40% of all people seen) living without any adapted environment MdM observes that the most affected people in the camps are the ones facing multiple vulnerabilities such as children MdM strongly believes that there is an immediate need for improved international standard of sanitation, food, living conditions, vaccination strategy and protected spaces for children who face even more violence MdM asks for humane reception conditions especially for children MdM demands a political response based on solidarity and safety for the children in migration

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