The European Commission has signed contracts with 8 NGOs in relation to the refugee crisis in Greece. These NGOs will receive about 83 of the 700 million euros that has been earmarked for Greece.
In total Greece will receive 300 million euros for 2016, 200 million euros for 2017 and a further 200 million euros for 2018 in European funding. The NGOs will have to provide food, shelter, medical care, training and protection to refugees.
The list of NGOs includes the Greek chapters of the UNHCR, Red Cross and Doctors of the World, along with the Danish Refugee Council, Oxfam, Save the Children, ASB Federal Association and International Rescue Committee Hellas.
In a press conference on the agreement, the Alternate Minister of Migration Policy Yannis Mouzalas explained that the NGOs will coordinate their actions with the Greek government and will recruit people from local communities.
Additionally, Mr. Mouzalas noted that “we can manage 50,000 to 60,000 refugees” and estimated that most are in transit. The Alternate Minister also suggested that about 14,000 or 15,000 refugees will be relocated to other European countries.
