Greece’s Alternate Minister for Social Solidarity Theano Fotiou announced on Thursday that International Organisation for Migration (IOM) will take over the operation of the 11 shelters accommodating unaccompanied minors.
The IOM will take charge as of January 1, 2019 following the suspension of operation by PRAKSIS, the previous operator of the shelters.
The IOM will take over the shelters in Glyfada, Kypseli (I and II), Patras, Thessaloniki, Exarchia, Halandri and Penteli, where a total of 124 minors are currently residing.
Funding for the project has been secured under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
The announcement also mentioned that in the interest of providing a smooth transition for minors and staff, the ministry and IOM are pledging that the majority of PRAKSIS staff with the right qualifications already working for the structures will be absorbed under the new management. The total capacity, also, will be increased to 240, Fotiou said.
