Workers say over 750 applications per week are handled, while Ministry defends them, saying they are dealing with "an unequal struggle." Greece's beleaguered asylum service workforce delivered a harsh message to critics who question the speed at which they are processing the number of applications from refugees and migrants stranded on the Eastern Aegean Islands.
Press reports and commentaries have heavily criticized the ability of the state-controlled service to speed up processes in order to relieve the islands who are struggling to cope with mass overcrowding at migrant camps. Greece's Ministry of Migration Policy, however, released a statement claiming that they are processing more than 750 applications a week, saying they are dealing with "an unequal struggle." "On average, more than 750 asylum applications per week are processed at the first instance on the five Aegean islands, where reception and identification centers ('hotspots') are located," said the statement.
"From March 2016 through to December 10th 2017, 33,021 asylum applications have been processed at the first instance on the five islands; while average time for the processing at the first instance of asylum applications on the five islands, for the month of November, stood at 72 days," the statement added. The "process" referred to in the statement ends either with the asylum seekers in question being issued with asylum applicant identity cards with no geographical restriction, and therefore individuals can be transferred to the Greek mainland, or with decisions rejecting the asylum applications.
According to data presented by the asylum service, currently rejections represent 16% of cases according to the asylum service, given the countries of origin of the asylum seekers who reach the Aegean islands.
Lesvos carrying the brunt of burden
As expected, the figures reveal that Lesvos has the toughest challenge.From a total of 7,716 pending applications from the regional offices, there are 4,454 on Lesvos, 1,019 from Chios, 1,022 on Samos, 846 from Kos, and 375 from Leros.The main countries of origin of asylum seekers applying for asylum on the five islands during the current period are Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, while the asylum service conceded that "there are a large number of families and children under 10 years of age."
In a final parting shot of its critics, the asylum service said: "The Greek Asylum Service and its staff are engaged in an unequal struggle in order to process the disproportionately very large number of asylum applications, submitted both on the islands and on the mainland, in a fashion which is in accordance with the law, and is fair and timely."