European Commission Allocates 180 Million Euros for Urgent Assistance to Refugees in Greece

Photo from Ukrinform–UATV

The European Commission annouced today that it is allocating 180 million euros for refugee aid projects in Greece.

The aid is a part of the Emergency Support to Integration and Accommodation (ESTIA) program, which helps get refugees into urban accommodation and out of camps, and provides them with regular cash assistance.

“Our humanitarian programmes for refugees in Greece are a clear and loud signal of European solidarity. We continue to deliver on our strong commitment to help refugees in Greece live more secure, normal and dignified lives, and facilitate their integration into the local economy and society. Our ESTIA programme is achieving real results to change people’s lives for the better. I pay special tribute to the Greek citizens and mayors who have welcomed refugees in their municipalities with great empathy and care,” said Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides.

The ESTIA program is the biggest EU aid operation in Greece. So far, it has created more than 23,000 urban accommodation places, and set up a cash assistance scheme serving more than 41,000 refugees and asylum seekers.

To date, the European Commission has made available over 1.5 billion euros in support for Greece to help manage the humanitarian situation, migration and its borders.

Part of today’s new funding will go to other humanitarian organisations working in Greece to address the immediate needs of refugees such as shelter, primary health care, psycho-social support, improved hygiene conditions, non-formal education and protection.

Since April 2017, more than 58,000 asylum-seekers and refugees received cash assistance in Greece.