Greece: Lives on Hold Update on Situation of Refugees and Migrants on the Greek Islands

Almost sixteen months since the EU-Turkey deal came into effect on the Greek islands on 20 March 2016, thousands of asylum-seekers continue to wait in limbo in sub-standard living conditions as a result of the deal, which aspires to return everyone arriving on the islands back to Turkey regardless of their international protection needs. Although returns of asylum-seekers on the basis that Turkey is safe have not yet taken place, the expectation that they would be returned under the deal continues to condemn many to extended asylum procedures stuck on overcrowded islands.