1 in 5 refugees arriving in Greece via sea is a child So far in 2025, nearly 5,000 refugee children have arrived, out of whom more than 1,700 are unaccompanied or have been separated from their families, according to the latest report by Save the Children and the Greek Council for Refugees.
Despite rising numbers, child protection remains critically lacking. Temporary and overcrowded facilities in abandoned buildings or port areas on the island of Crete fail to meet even basic needs, leaving children, especially unaccompanied minors, vulnerable to serious risks.
The new migration bill that was recently passed adds further challenges for unaccompanied minors, as it does not include specific safeguards to ensure that their best interests are upheld. This leaves them exposed to restrictive measures, limited legal access, detention, and heightened risk of exploitation, abuse, and neglect, and even the possibility of returns.
These are not just numbers. They are children who urgently need and deserve protection, care, and a chance to reclaim their future.