The number of unaccompanied refugee children passing through Greece has been a matter of concern. METAction (METAdrasi) – one of the key non-governmental organisations active in caring for unaccompanied refugee children in Greece – is jump-starting a foster care programme to cope with the increased demands raised by the refugee crisis.

The group cares for children that arrive in Greece without a family, such as a Syrian child, aged 2, found wandering alone in Orestiada, northern Greece. In another case, an 8-year-old had climbed into a trafficker’s boat only to find himself separated from his family and alone on a dinghy.

METActiom tries to reunite these chidlren with their families, however this process is lengthy and the gruop is looking for places for these children wit families, especially ones that speak the same language and share the same culture.

So far, the group has helped 2,700 children that arrived alone in Greece since 2011, escorting them to child care structures mainly based in Athens. With steadily increasing numbers, the group is finding it hard to cope with the average of 450 unaccompanied children per month compared to 40-50 children in previous years.

The group is faced with huge problems in trying to determine whether the child had been subject to the adequate tests and vaccinations needed or if the adolescents claiming to be adults or “nephews” of other refugees were actually related. There are fears for trafficking in a situation that is rapidly spiralling out of control. The group’s social service workers are concerned about the children falling prey to traffickers who find them to be easy targets, ripe for exploitation.