Author: terredeshommes.org | 28 December 2019
Terre des Hommes (TDH) believes the authorities’ new plans for refugees and migrants will put at risk the mental health and well-being of thousands of children and young people.
The announcement by the government that it is considering the construction and extension of “Closed Reception and Identification Centers” and closed Pre-Removal Centers οn the Aegean islands, and looking at relocating refugees and migrants to these centres poses a significant risk to these people. The new plan also violates Article 3 of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child if it neglects to maintain the standards established by competent authorities, particularly in the areas of safety and health.
Εxtensive research has shown that detention intensifies the incidence of depression in children and causes symptoms of stress, including eating and sleep disturbances, neediness, withdrawal, self-harm, aggression and even suicide attempts – irrespective of the conditions and duration of detention. UNHCR data shows that since January 2018, children have represented 36 percent of the migrant and refugee arrivals in Greece.