ATHENS: After rising economic problems, the state of Greece has withdrawn economic and food aid to hundreds of migrants which are now bound to live in Miserable situation.
In one of Athens’ poorest neighbourhoods, for migrants, women and children are at risk as the Greek economy declines. Membership Program is organized for free food donation.
Deniz Yobo, 33, from Niger, bought rice, lentils, flour, honey and biscuits for a month’s worth in his kitchen cabinet.
Yobo, a mother of two, is raising her children alone and her meager salary is almost offset by rising prices in Greece this year.
He works part time and earns less than 500 Euros ($550) per month, which is enough to pay 350 Euros in rent. “I usually don’t have enough money to feed my sons in half a month,” he told AFP.
Greece has consistently cut off aid for asylum seekers and refugees as attitudes towards immigration rise across Europe.
Once an asylum seeker is granted refugee status, the monthly allowance of several hundred euros (US dollars) expires.
In December, Athens ended an EU grant that has provided rental housing to tens of thousands of refugees over the past seven years.
Immigration manager Notis Mitarachi said that “the service served its purpose” at the time, adding that “few” applicants were admitted to “immediately no” camps.
Fahima, an Afghan woman in her twenties, was one of those who were thrown into the streets due to the relocation.
A few months later, he and his mother finally found a small studio to share with eight others.
Fahima has been in Greece for the past six years and her asylum application was rejected.
Therefore, he finds himself illegal and cannot benefit from any State aid.
Said, “I am in a very bad situation when there is no state service, no job.”
In the last 18 months, humanitarian organization Intersos has delivered food to more than 5,000 migrants and refugees, 54% of whom are children.
AFP/APP
