The Greek Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Notis Mitarachis, said there was a 90% reduction in immigration flows to Greece during a TV interview on Monday morning.

Speaking to state broadcaster ERT1 Mitarachis spoke about a more manageable situation, given that the structures in the country are now 35 out of 121. In 2019, as he pointed out, there were 17,000 people on the islands, and today the number has decreased to 3,500.

“Our goal is to change what is happening at the entry points. From open structures such as e.g. in Moria, which shamed the country, we are now talking about closed, controlled structures, which provide very dignified living conditions, and at the same time there is an increased sense of security for the beneficiaries and the workers and for the local communities,” he said, among other things.

He noted that today 10,000 people have left the country legally, with deportations, relocations, and refoulment. “In the last two years, more people are leaving than those coming. We are seeing a decongestion both on our islands and in mainland Greece,” he said.

Asked about the measures taken in the closed structures due to the coronavirus pandemic, he referred to the implementation of the “Agnodiki” plan, noting that for the time being there has been no loss of human life in these structures, despite the host population.

The Minister of Immigration and Asylum also spoke about the “Ilios” program, which among other things includes a 12-month rent subsidy to Asylum seekers, but also assistance in finding work in Greece.

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