For years, Greece has hosted large numbers of asylum seekers and refugees fleeing conflict and poverty, primarily in the Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. In 2015, it was the main entry point for the more than 1 million people who sought safety in the European Union that year. Most individuals reach Greece from Turkey, risking their lives in dangerous sea crossings to Greek islands in the northern Aegean Sea. Although the number of arrivals has fallen significantly since the height of Europe's so-called "refugee crisis," thousands of people continue to arrive in Greece. The failure of Greece and the EU to establish coherent and humane refugee policies means many languish in appalling conditions as they try to navigate the asylum process and access critical protection. Among those most affected are children, either unaccompanied or with family members or caregivers.
