Greece

DEMOGRAPHICS

Arrivals

•Over a million refugees have passed through Greece while 58,000 have remained in the country- making up .5% of the entire population.

•"The generous response of Greek civil society, in a difficult context, should be recognized and supported." -UNHCR

*Data sources:UNHCR

DIVERSITY CONTRIBUTION

*Data sources: UNHCR: Refugees & Migrants Arrivals to Europe, Relief Web International

Top Newcomer Languages

Arabic
Dari
Pashto
Kurdish
Urdu
Persian
Farsi

5,000

Government-Sponsored Greek Language Classes

*Data source: Refugees In Towns 2019

ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS

Top 3 Fields of Labor*

Agricultural and Fishing Labor

90%

Service and Tourism

35%

Private Care and Domestic Work

27%

*Data source: Infomigrants 2020

Refugee Entrepreneurs

Food Services
Babershops
Salons
Tailors
Translators
Counseling

*Data source: Refugees in Towns 2019

95%

Refugee Tax SS# Holders

*Data source: Migration Policy Greece

68%

Refugee Tax Identification Holder

SOCIO-FAMILIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

2825

UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN LIVING IN GREECE

Long term or temporary accommodation

2054%

Reception and Identification Centers

93%

Protective Custody

28%

Temporary Housing

70%

Insecure housing

580%

*Data source: Relief Web

COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION CONTRIBUTIONS

Revitalization Neighborhoods - Athens

Kato Patisia
Kipseli Square
Amerikis Square
Koliatsou Square
Victoria Square
Nea Philidelphia-Halkidona

Data used: Refugees In Towns 2018

Municipalities Receiving Government Assistance for lower-income Apartment Renovation

Minors under 18

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Since the beginning of the refugee crisis, Greek society has responded with empathy towards refugees and migrants passing through the country. Civic groups, local authorities, and NGOs have provided aid in the form of clothes, meals, medicines, legal and psychological support, and informal education. Most Greeks we interviewed said that they have more than once donated goods or money to organizations that support refugees.

*Data source: Refugees in Towns 2019

“A Message to the World,” Oil on linen by Elizabeth Benson Thayer — Over half of the world's forcibly displaced people are children; hundreds of thousands of them are children traveling alone. Despite all that has happened in their short lives, they are willing to trust, to make a new friend, to hope for love returned.

January 13, 2021

The Potato Fields

"Entering and exiting people’s pain is so uncomfortable – by far the worst feeling about crisis work or international development..."

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Volunteers

Suzanne Whitehead

Community Programs Coordinator, Greece

Originally from Montana, Suzanne has spent the past 8 years fighting for the human rights of marginalized people across the world. Currently as the executive director of HELP International, Suzanne has experience in over 40 countries and cares deeply about building inclusive spaces where all voices count. Using her background of anthropology and public administration, Suzanne enjoys working with community leaders, non-profit organizations, and government leaders to create meaningful, collaborative solutions to fighting poverty. Currently Suzanne oversees projects in 7 countries including Lesvos, Greece where the focus is to assist refugees as they arrive and apply for asylum.