Latest news with #ChristinaPsarra
Saudi Gazette
08-04-2025
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
Six cases of child malnutrition found in Samos migrant camp, medical charity says
ATHENS — A medical charity working in Greece says it has diagnosed six children living in a migrant facility on the eastern island of Samos as suffering from malnutrition, the first time its doctors have made such a diagnosis since the facility opened in 2021. The Greek section of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said its staff had diagnosed the children, aged between 6 months and 6 years, with moderate to severe acute malnutrition and in need of immediate medical intervention. "Children make up about 25% of the (camp's) population, yet paediatric care remains insufficient, not only within the centre but on the entire island of Samos," MSF Greece's Director General Christina Psarra said in a news release. The six children, from Afghanistan and Syria, all arrived in the camp with their families within the last two to three months and it was not possible to determine whether they had already been suffering from malnutrition before they arrived, Psarra said. However, "definitely the conditions in the camp have made things more difficult and have had an aggravating effect," she said. Asked about the MSF claims, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum said it would release a response later on Monday. Psarra said that while meals were provided for the camp's residents, the diet "is not nutritious for children of this age." The situation was exacerbated by the severance nine months ago of a stipend provided to asylum seekers in Greece, which had allowed them to purchase fresh food and other basic necessities, she added. Officially designated as a "closed controlled access centre," the European Union-funded migrant camp in Samos, built on a hillside about eight kilometres from the island's main port of Vathy, was opened in 2021 to replace a massively overcrowded camp that had developed on the town's fringes. The camp, which is guarded by police and private security, has a capacity of 3,664 people and as of Monday, was housing 3,176 people, according to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. Psarra noted that the children had already endured gruelling journeys to arrive in Samos, and conditions inside the camp exacerbated their medical situation. Rights groups have reported dire conditions in the camp in Samos, including poor sanitation and a shortage of running water. "They are children who have been through painful journeys. They have had many difficulties in arriving," Psarra said of the malnourished children on Samos. "The conditions in the camp makes it even worse." Greece lies on one of the most popular routes into the EU for people fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Many make the short but treacherous boat journey from the Turkish coast to nearby Greek islands like Samos, often in small, unseaworthy inflatable dinghies. Last week, at least seven people, including three children, died near the Greek island of Lesbos after the inflatable dinghy they were traveling in sank. Another 23 people survived and were taken to a migrant camp in Lesbos. — Euronews
Al Jazeera
07-04-2025
- Health
- Al Jazeera
MSF finds malnourished children in Greek migrant camp, urges action
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has reported the first cases of malnourished children in a migrant camp on the Greek island of Samos, raising fresh concerns over the facility's conditions. The medical charity said on Monday that its doctors had diagnosed six children from Syria and Afghanistan, aged between six months and six years, with acute malnutrition requiring urgent care. While MSF could not confirm whether their condition was directly caused by life in the camp, it warned that inadequate food and healthcare placed children at serious risk. 'No child should suffer from malnutrition due to systemic neglect,' said Christina Psarra, director general of MSF Greece, calling for immediate intervention. She noted that about a quarter of the camp's residents were children, Reuters reported. Greece's Ministry of Migration and Asylum dismissed concerns of widespread malnutrition, insisting that the cases were isolated. 'Under no circumstances is there generalised malnutrition due to living conditions,' it said, adding that asylum seekers receive three meals a day. Greece, which was at the centre of Europe's 2015-16 migration crisis, has seen another surge in arrivals this year. According to United Nations data, nearly a third of migrants reaching southern Europe from the Middle East and Africa in 2024 landed in Greece. The Samos camp, built with European Union funding, opened in 2021 as a high-security facility encircled by barbed wire. It replaced the overcrowded Vathy camp, which once housed 7,000 people in squalid conditions. The six malnourished children arrived at the camp this year, MSF said. Amnesty International has previously condemned conditions at the site, describing them as 'inhumane and degrading' during times of overcrowding, with water shortages and a lack of essential services. In December, a UN human rights expert criticised Greece for failing to identify victims of sex trafficking in the camp. MSF has urged Greek authorities and the EU to ensure proper paediatric care and nutrition support for asylum seekers. It also called for the reinstatement of financial aid to refugees, which was suspended last June.
Arab News
07-04-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Children found malnourished in Greek migrant camp
ATHENS: Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Monday it had identified the first cases of malnourished children in a migrant camp on the Greek island of Samos, which has been criticized by rights groups for dangerous living conditions. MSF doctors have diagnosed six children from Syria and Afghanistan aged between six months and six years with acute malnutrition needing immediate help, it said. While it could not say if their malnutrition was due to living in the camp, conditions there — including insufficient food and medical care — endangered their health, MSF said. 'No child should suffer from malnutrition due to systemic neglect,' said Christina Psarra, director general of MSF Greece, calling for immediate action and adding that about a quarter of the camp's residents were children. The Greek migration ministry said the cases were isolated. 'Under no circumstances is there generalized malnutrition due to living conditions,' the ministry said, adding that asylum-seekers were provided with three meals a day. On the forefront of Europe's 2015-16 migration crisis, Greece saw a surge in arrivals in 2024, according to UN data. This year, nearly a third of arrivals to southern Europe from the Middle East and Africa were to Greece. The EU-funded Samos camp, a sprawling, heavily-surveilled facility surrounded by barbed wire, was opened by the government in 2021 to replace the former camp of Vathy — once an overcrowded, rat-infested tent city of 7,000 people. The six malnourished children arrived this year, MSF said. Rights group Amnesty International has called conditions at Samos 'inhumane and degrading' during periods of overcrowding, with water shortages and a lack of other basic services. In December, a UN human rights expert accused Greece of failing to identify victims of sex trafficking in the camp. MSF called on Greece and the EU to ensure adequate pediatric care and nutritional support in Samos and to restore financial support to asylum seekers suspended last June.
Arab News
07-04-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Children found malnourished in Greek migrant camp, MSF charity says
ATHENS: Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Monday it had identified the first cases of malnourished children in a migrant camp on the Greek island of Samos, which has been criticized by rights groups for dangerous living conditions. MSF doctors have diagnosed six children from Syria and Afghanistan aged between six months and six years with acute malnutrition needing immediate help, it said. While it could not say if their malnutrition was due to living in the camp, conditions there — including insufficient food and medical care — endangered their health, MSF said. 'No child should suffer from malnutrition due to systemic neglect,' said Christina Psarra, director general of MSF Greece, calling for immediate action and adding that about a quarter of the camp's residents were children. The Greek migration ministry said the cases were isolated. 'Under no circumstances is there generalized malnutrition due to living conditions,' the ministry said, adding that asylum-seekers were provided with three meals a day. On the forefront of Europe's 2015-16 migration crisis, Greece saw a surge in arrivals in 2024, according to UN data. This year, nearly a third of arrivals to southern Europe from the Middle East and Africa were to Greece. The EU-funded Samos camp, a sprawling, heavily-surveilled facility surrounded by barbed wire, was opened by the government in 2021 to replace the former camp of Vathy — once an overcrowded, rat-infested tent city of 7,000 people. The six malnourished children arrived this year, MSF said. Rights group Amnesty International has called conditions at Samos 'inhumane and degrading' during periods of overcrowding, with water shortages and a lack of other basic services. In December, a UN human rights expert accused Greece of failing to identify victims of sex trafficking in the camp. MSF called on Greece and the EU to ensure adequate pediatric care and nutritional support in Samos and to restore financial support to asylum seekers suspended last June.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Children found malnourished in Greek migrant camp, MSF charity says
By Karolina Tagaris ATHENS (Reuters) -Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Monday it had identified the first cases of malnourished children in a migrant camp on the Greek island of Samos, which has been criticized by rights groups for dangerous living conditions. MSF doctors have diagnosed six children from Syria and Afghanistan aged between six months to six years with acute malnutrition needing immediate help, it said. While it could not say if their malnutrition was due to living in the camp, conditions there - including insufficient food and medical care - endangered their health, MSF said. "No child should suffer from malnutrition due to systemic neglect," said Christina Psarra, director general of MSF Greece, calling for immediate action and adding that about a quarter of the camp's residents were children. The Greek migration ministry said it would release a statement later on Monday. On the forefront of Europe's 2015-16 migration crisis, Greece saw a surge in arrivals in 2024, according to U.N. data. This year, nearly a third of arrivals to southern Europe from the Middle East and Africa were to Greece. The EU-funded Samos camp, a sprawling, heavily-surveilled facility surrounded by barbed wire, was opened by the government in 2021 to replace the former camp of Vathy - once an overcrowded, rat-infested tent city of 7,000 people. The six malnourished children arrived this year, MSF said. Rights group Amnesty International has called conditions at Samos "inhumane and degrading" during periods of overcrowding, with water shortages and a lack of other basic services. In December, a U.N. human rights expert accused Greece of failing to identify victims of sex trafficking in the camp. MSF called on Greece and the EU to ensure adequate pediatric care and nutritional support in Samos and to restore financial support to asylum seekers suspended last June.
