Child sexual abuse rampant at Greece refugee camps: Charities

Charities and human rights groups warn that children as young as seven have been subjected to sexual assault at official European refugee camps in Greece.

Citing the campaign groups, British weekly The Observer reported on Saturday that some refugee camps in Greece were so unsafe that youngsters were too afraid to leave their tents at night.

In the Sofex facility run by the Greek government and situated on the outskirts of the northern city of Thessaloniki, the level of sexual abuse risk is so acute that women are terrified to go to toilets alone at night, according to the aid organizations.

Yvette Cooper MP, Chairwoman of the British Labour Party’s refugee taskforce, has stressed that the recent findings about the situation in refugee shelters “should shame us all,” urging immediate action to protect vulnerable kids.

Meanwhile, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) confirmed that it had raised the issue with Greek authorities.

“It is an issue when it comes to Softex and others. UNHCR has been raising concerns about this, specifically about this issue [sexual violence], saying that we don’t think it will be safe for women and for children. We’ve raised the issue of security again and again. This is a problem; it’s under discussion,” it said.

Back in May, the Greek government closed the informal refugee accommodation center in Idomeni near the Macedonian border. Afterwards, a series of government camps were constructed near Thessaloniki.

ME