AYS Daily Digest 22/02/2021 — Children along migrant routes endure mental health crisis and abuse
By: Are You Syrious
Tags: Sea, Digest, Greece, Libya, France

AYS Daily Digest 22/02/2021 — Children along migrant routes endure mental health crisis and abuse

Deadly interceptions by Libyan coast guard // New European Parliament watchdog on Frontex // Romania and Cyprus register record migration numbers // and much more… Are You Syrious? Follow Feb 23 · 10 min read

A little boy from Afghanistan in Chios — credits to Ruhi Akhtar

GREECE

It is sadly known that children and unaccompanied minors are the most vulnerable people along migration routes. They face incredibly hard lives and traumatic experiences that no child should endure; they lose precious, formative years — if not their lives. And, too often, they fall prey to smugglers and predators.

We continue reporting on the ongoing case of NGOs in charge of unaccompanied minors allegedly involved in the case of former National Theatre director Dimitris Lignadis during the period 2017–2018.

The Special Secretary for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors filed a memorandum today with the Prosecutor’s Office, requesting the investigation of those who have recently seen the light of day. Ms. Agapidaki stated:

I came today to the Prosecutor’s Office to request the full investigation of the complaints arising from publications and concerning possible illegal acts committed during the period 2017–2018 against unaccompanied minors. Nothing should be left in the dark without investigation.

The public prosecutors’ office on Monday launched a preliminary investigation into these allegations.

The head of the first-instance court prosecutors, Sotiria Papageorgakopoulou, has ordered the investigation of all articles and posts claiming that the NGOs responsible for running shelters for unaccompanied refugee and migrant children at that time arranged for them to have drama lessons with Lignadis, who is currently facing charges as a serial rapist. It remains unclear whether this investigation pertains to the role of NGOs, or the veracity of the articles and posts and the alleged defamation they contain.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting for the resignation of the Minister of Culture who appointed Lignadis.

Aegean Boat Report shows evidence of small children left drifting on life rafts on the Aegean Sea.

In yet another shocking breach of international law, men, women and children have been beaten, robbed and forced onto a life raft by Greek authorities, despite repeated government claims that it does not undertake ‘pushbacks’ of refugees into Turkey. Thirteen men, women and children were forcibly removed from a refugee camp in Lesvos on Wednesday night by uniformed operatives, who claimed the refugees were being taken to be tested for COVID-19. Instead, they were forced into an isobox, repeatedly beaten with batons, stripped of their possessions and forced out to sea on an inflatable life raft.

Bethany Rielly, who speaks about the mental health crisis of children in MORIA 2.0, found it very difficult to report about her disturbing findings.

MSF has warned of a mental health “emergency” among children at Moria, where 7,100 refugees are enduring the coldest months of the year in flimsy tents without heating or running water. Moria 2.0, the new site, is even worse than the previous one.

What many child psychologists are finding, however, is that — more than past traumas — the current conditions in the camps are leading children to experience severe mental health issues. The fire at Moria was a re-traumatising experience for many of them. Read the full report here.