OSCE human rights chief calls on EU and Greece to urgently address dangerous living conditions of refugees and migrants

WARSAW, 11 November 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today called on the European Union and Greek authorities to act urgently to provide adequate shelter and living conditions for the estimated 50,000 migrants, asylum seekers and refugees now staying in Greece.

“Seven months after the EU-Turkey agreement, more than 50,000 migrants, asylum seekers and refugees are reportedly still stranded in Greece, with 15,000 of them living in inadequate temporary shelters on the islands where they first arrived,” said Director Link.

“More than a year after Europe was shocked by the number of suffering migrants and refugees fleeing atrocities, who sought safe haven on European shores, European and Greek authorities should urgently step up their efforts to address the harsh conditions that those same people have endured since arriving on European soil,” said the ODIHR Director. “My Office has previously offered to assist Greece and other participating States impacted by the refugee crisis, by providing support through needs-based recommendations and good practices on the human rights situation of those affected, and we remain ready to assist the authorities in these countries in this regard.”

In Helsinki in 1992 and Istanbul in 1999, OSCE participating States committed themselves to respect the human right to seek asylum and to ensure the adequate protection of refugees in line with international standards.