“When and how will I get out of here?”
Deteriorating mental health of detainees at Corinth detention centre
Mobile Info Team
22nd March 2024
In recent days Mobile Info Team has received harrowing messages from tens of people detained at Corinth pre-removal detention centre (PRDC) who report that they are experiencing severe deterioration of their mental health, in some cases leading to suicide attempts.
Several people we are in contact with say they are in desperate situations and are reaching out to us because their requests for information on their detention cases or access to urgent medical care are being ignored by the authorities at Corinth PRDC. We are highly troubled at threats from people we are talking to that they will commit suicide if they are not released.
MIT stands in solidarity with people detained in administrative detention and denied their rights to information, legal support and decent living conditions. We are deeply concerned at the utter lack of medical care at Corinth and within pre-removal detention facilities across the Greek mainland.
We call on the authorities to immediately take action to improve conditions in Corinth pre-removal detention and end the arbitrary detention of people on the move.
We demand:
Immediate access to urgent healthcare, legal support and decent living conditions for detainees currently held at Corinth
An immediate end to the arbitrary detention of people seeking asylum and undocumented people in Greece
Implementation of alternatives to detention which allow people to live in dignified and community-based accommodation
Where detention is absolutely necessary:
detainees must have adequate and timely access to healthcare, including psychological support and effective translation services
detainees must have regular recreational activities and are allowed unrestricted access to outdoor space in compliance with European and international law
detainees must have regular and unhindered access to hygiene items and cleaning products
detainees must be informed in a language they understand of the reasons for detention and have access to effective remedies against detention orders
