Greece: Our work in 2018 at a glance
The sea and the land migratory routes from Turkey to Greece remain dangerous and even deadly, while people continue to get separated, leaving families in anxiety and despair.
In 2018, according to official data, 174 people have died or went missing in the Aegean Sea and 39 perished while crossing the Evros River.
The ICRC has collected more than 300 requests from families looking for relatives potentially missing in various shipwrecks in the Aegean Sea since 2015. Almost half of these cases (45%) concern children.
Detention of migrants
The administrative detention of migrants is a regular practice in Greece and ensuring proper conditions remains a challenge in a number of locations. In some cases, vulnerable people, including women and children, were held for prolonged periods in inadequate facilities with limited access to basic services.
The ICRC reiterates its position: immigration detention should remain an exceptional measure and the detention of migrant children should be brought to an end.
Highlights of our work in Greece:
For more information please read our overview of activities in 2018.