Authorities scramble to find housing for child refugees

eKathimerini — Some 380 unaccompanied minors remain in closed hot spots, detention centers and even on the streets, as a program to house them in rented apartments has yet to materialize due to staff shortages and despite increased funding by the European Union, authorities said on Wednesday.

According to reports, some 100 unaccompanied minors at the Moria hot spot on Lesvos will be transferred by Friday to a camp on the island under the supervision of NGOs Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF),  Save the Children and Metadrasi.

The Moria camp, which provides temporary shelter to 3,000 asylum seekers, was the site of violent clashes between migrants and riot police on Tuesday.

“It is a stopgap solution until accommodation facilities are organized,” a Labor Ministry official told the Kathimerini, adding that similar temporary solutions will be used to house minors from other detention centers such as Amygdaleza outside Athens, while by the end of May the National Center of Social Solidarity (EKA) plans to create infrastructure to house 200 minors.

According to the law, it is illegal to house minors at hot spots, which were set up to register and process migrants, and they should be moved to other reception centers.