Ministers, agencies discuss ways of hosting and helping Ukrainian refugees arriving in Greece

A Greek government-wide meeting was held on Friday afternoon to discuss hosting the refugee flows arriving from Ukraine to Greece.

According to a government statement, all topics about assisting the refugees were discussed by ministers and public adminstration officials, including the processing at border stations, provision of temporary protection, hosting services and conditions, and steps to be taken by relevant ministries.

Greece has allready granted temporary residency to 2,704 Ukrainian nationals

To the present, Greece has granted temporary residency to 2,704 Ukrainian nationals. Of these, only 50 have applied to stay at entry-point facilities. Greece has a total of 5,000 beds available that could rise to 30,000 if need be, the Migration & Asylum Ministry said.

In the context of an emergency system adopted by the EU countries, Ukrainian refugees will be able to receive a biometric-based identity card with 12-month residency and work permits included. The fast-track system will be introduced on April 4.

Additionally, enrolling children in schools and vaccinating refugees were discussed, along with further dispatch of medical supplies to Ukraine. The ministries of labor, agricultural development, development, and tourism will provide reports on labor needs in the Greek market for seasonal or permanent positions needed. The interior ministry is talking with local government and the Church of Greece for housing and support options.

For general public assistance, a special web page is being currently set up where public and private agencies, individuals and NGOs may sign up as to the kind of help they can offer to Ukrainian refugees, at https://migration.gov.gr/help-ukraine-online-form/.

Ukrainians themselves can refer for help to the migration & asylum ministry site at (https://migration.gov.gr/ukraine/) in Greek, English, and Ukrainian.

Greek convoy crosses into Moldova

A convoy of around 30 vehicles evacuating dozens of Greek expatriates, diplomats and journalists from the war zone of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine, which is under siege by Russian forces, has crossed into Moldova, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said Friday.

Dendias said in a tweet that the mission, dubbed “Nostos 3,” has been completed. “Congratulations to all those who contributed to the successful outcome,” he added. The large majority of ethnic Greeks have stayed back in Mariupol.

A total of 3,155 Ukrainian refugees have crossed the border since the start of the war

The arrivals of Ukrainian refugees in Greece continue. The Ministry of Civil Protection announced that in the last 24 hours (4/3/2022) 451 Ukrainian refugees entered Greece, of which 147 were minors.

Analytically:

• From Promachonas: 283
• From Evzonoi: 21
• From the other land borders: 12
• 86 people arrived at the “Eleftherios Venizelos” airport and 49 at the “Makedonia” airport.

A total of 3,155 Ukrainian refugees have crossed the border since the start of the war, of whom 906 are minors.