In a troubling development, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), often known as Doctors Without Borders, has publicized a disturbing report revealing the instances of physical violence experienced by asylum-seekers arriving in Greece. Documented incidents include severe beatings and forced returns to sea. The report consequently urges Greece to intensify its efforts in maritime search and rescue operations for migrants.
Greece has long served as a significant entry point into the European Union for refugees and migrants from regions like the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The country has faced severe accusations from several aid organizations and the UN’s refugee agency UNHCR. These allegations are associated with the forceful expulsion of migrants, known as “pushbacks,” at both its sea and land borders—a practice deemed illegal.
Relying on an expansive collection of medical data, patient testimonies, and operational insights spanning from August 2021 to July 2023, the MSF report provides a bleak perspective. It suggests that a severe lack of assistance and the backdrop of violence endanger the lives of those seeking refuge.
At the islands of Samos and Lesbos, MSF is grafting tirelessly to address the medical and humanitarian needs of arrivals. The organization provides assistance in collaboration with other entities. Patient testimonies fortify these findings, narrating accounts of pushbacks that encompass physical assaults to strip searches carried out by uniformed and masked individuals. Such actions, MSF suggests, significantly exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and exacerbate pre-existing health conditions—both physical and psychological—posing serious threats to the well-being of asylum-seekers.
MSF’s report indicates that despite a rise in arrivals, violent episodes persist uninterrupted. This leads to reports of multiple pushbacks, violent tactics, and an alarming absence of aid. Consequently, the report advocates for humane treatment, an end to violent border practices, and concerted efforts to provide access to fair asylum procedures.