Unpaid bills cripple shelters for refugee kids

The Migration and Asylum Ministry is facing a severe funding crisis, with unpaid bills reaching nearly €65.8 million.

The financial shortfall has severely impacted the country's asylum system, delaying payments to service providers and affecting the operation of 60 shelters for unaccompanied minors. Essential services such as interpretation and financial aid for asylum seekers have been disrupted.

Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos has acknowledged the arrears, attributing the delays to previous management issues. He assured efforts to balance the debts and improve the situation. However, ongoing bureaucratic challenges have further complicated the disbursement of funds. The situation is exacerbated by a halt in financial support from the European Union due to insufficient documentation.

PASOK MP Pavlos Christidis emphasized the gravity of the problem, noting that...