Asked by: Baroness Massey of Darwen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what, if any, support they are providing to efforts by (1) the government of Greece, (2) the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and (3) Greek and international non-governmental organisations, to monitor hotspots for migrants and refugees in the Greek islands and in particular the needs of unaccompanied minors.
Answered by Lord Bates
In response to the refugee crisis in Greece, the UK has provided 500,000 relief items such as tents, blankets and clothes, delivered more than 1.4 million meals to vulnerable migrants and refugees and supported safe accommodation spaces for children (totalling £39 million). At the height of the crisis the UK was one of the first donors to make substantial funding available.
Whilst UK funding has ended, along with support to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UK continues to support Greece under the EU-Turkey Deal. Since 2016 we have delivered two packages of support – including a combined total of up to 115 expert staff – to ease overcrowding on the islands and accelerate the asylum and returns processes.