Amnesty International has described the EU-funded Closed Controlled Access Center (CCAC) on the Greek island of Samos as a “dystopian nightmare.” Their report highlights several serious issues in the camp, including sub-standard living conditions and the unlawful detention of migrants. The organization claims that migrants face significant obstacles in accessing basic services and are subjected to systematic arbitrary detention.
On July 30, Amnesty International published a briefing on the conditions in the Samos CCAC. The report alleges that the living conditions in the camp are below acceptable standards and that some migrants are being detained unlawfully. The organization also noted that the migrants experience difficulties in accessing essential services, describing the detention as systematic and arbitrary. This report follows similar findings by other human rights organizations, such as the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Greek-based NGOs Refugee Legal Support (RLS) and Mobile Info Team (MIT).
A Syrian man named Anwar shared his distress with Amnesty researchers, stating that he and others face severe mental health challenges. Anwar fled from war, seeking a better future but ended up in unsafe and unclean conditions. He feels punished and separated from his family. Similarly, a Kurdish woman named Farida* from Oinofyta camp near Athens expressed her constant fear for her children’s safety. Living in cramped conditions, she compared the camp to a terrible prison where her children are suffocating.
Fawzida, a Yazidi Iraqi woman in Serres camp, spoke about her struggle with psychological issues and the lack of access to necessary services. She mentioned that Yazidis came to Greece expecting support and rights but found none. The camp is mainly occupied by people from Africa and the Middle East. Amnesty accuses Greek authorities of racializing people on the move by detaining only certain categories of people in the camp.
The entry and exit of the camp are controlled by digital systems, including double barbed wire metal fencing, CCTV, and constant police and private security patrols. In April 2024, the Greek Data Protection Authority fined the Ministry of Migration for incomplete and limited data protection impact assessments. Reports of inadequate living conditions have been received by the Greek Ombudsman since September 2023.
Annita Hipper, spokesperson for the European Commission on Migration, acknowledged the Amnesty report and emphasized that member states must provide adequate reception conditions in line with EU rules. She mentioned the new EU pact on migration and asylum, which aims to manage migration fairly and effectively. Despite continuous support from the EU Commission to improve reception capacities and living conditions in Greece, Amnesty International argues that the EU Commission has failed to address Greece’s long-standing failures.
Amnesty’s findings are based on visits to the Samos CCAC between July 2023 and January 2024. During this period, increased arrivals led to overcrowding, exacerbating the provision of basic services. In October 2023, the camp held 4,850 people despite having a capacity of 3,650. By February 2024, the number of residents had decreased but still exceeded the camp’s capacity. Amnesty highlighted the 25-day period during which new arrivals are not allowed to leave the camp, describing it as forced detention.
Access to water is another significant issue. Amnesty reported that water is available only for a few hours a day, making it difficult for residents to maintain personal hygiene. Residents shared their struggles, including a lack of basic supplies like soap and diapers. Medical provision is also inadequate, with no permanent medical doctor and a lack of specialized staff for sexual and reproductive health. The IOM was expected to take over healthcare management, but there was no confirmation of this at the time of the report.
Amnesty expressed concern about the “fast-track border procedure” used for processing asylum seekers, which provides shorter time limits and lower procedural rights. They also highlighted restrictions placed on unaccompanied minors, breaching international standards on the detention of children. Amnesty called attention to practices where authorities allegedly offered residents to waive their rights in exchange for being allowed to leave the camp.
The Council of Europe’s Commission for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) also reported poor conditions in Greek immigration detention facilities. They received allegations of physical ill-treatment by police officers and found that several police stations were inappropriate for detentions exceeding 24 hours. The Greek Migration Ministry responded by claiming efforts were being made to move vulnerable persons to mainland structures and address immediate needs.
Despite these efforts, the camp remains overcrowded, and basic necessities like water are in short supply. Residents receive limited bottled water, and additional water sources have been brought in to ensure adequacy. The Ministry also stated that all new arrivals have their procedures completed within the 25-day limit.