Six children were found to be malnourished in the migrant camp in Samos.
The group Doctors Without Borders stated that children overcoming challenging journeys are clinging to life under medically poor conditions in the migrant camp in Samos.
A medical aid organization operating in Greece announced that six children living in a migrant facility on the eastern side of Samos Island were diagnosed with malnutrition and that this was the first time since the facility opened in 2021 that its doctors had encountered such a situation. The Greek representation of Doctors Without Borders reported that their staff diagnosed children aged between 6 months and 6 years with moderate to severe acute malnutrition and that they needed urgent medical intervention. Christina Psarra, the General Director of Doctors Without Borders in Greece, stated in a press release, "Children make up about 25% of the camp population, but not only here, child care is insufficient throughout Samos Island." Psarra noted that all six children, who came from Afghanistan and Syria, had arrived at the camp with their families in the last two to three months, and it was not possible to determine whether they had faced malnutrition issues before arriving. However, she believes that "the conditions in the camp are definitely making things even harder." The Ministry of Migration and Asylum stated that it would later publish a response to the group's claims. Psarra mentioned that food is provided to the camp residents but that the nutrition program is "not sufficient for children of this age." She added that the situation worsened even further after the aid payments to refugees in Greece were cut off nine months ago. The migrant camp built on a hillside about eight kilometers from the main port of Vathy was opened in 2021 to replace an overcrowded camp that had developed within the city's borders. According to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, the camp, which is protected by police and private security, has a capacity of 3,664 people and was hosting 3,176 people as of Monday. Psarra noted that the children had already endured challenging journeys to reach Samos and that conditions in the camp had worsened medically. Greece continues to be one of the most popular destinations for people fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Many undertake dangerous sea journeys from the Turkish coast to reach nearby Greek islands like Samos. Last week, near Greece's Lesbos Island, at least seven people, including three children, lost their lives when their inflatable boat sank. The other 23 people were rescued and taken to a migrant camp on Lesbos.