Psychosocial vulnerabilities in newly arrived asylum seekers to the Greek island of Lesvos: a retrospective cross-sectional analysis

Abstract Background: Kara Tepe Registration and Identification Camp on Lesvos Island in Greece is a controlled access facility with people in various stages of the asylum procedure housed in tents, rub halls and containers in poor living conditions for prolonged periods of time. However, data are lacking on psychosocial vulnerabilities and experiences of these populations, particularly the growing number of single women residing in these settings.We aimed to explore psychosocial needs among this incamped population. Methods: We did a retrospective cross-sectional chart review of socio-demographic and psychosocial vulnerabilities of all migrants (>18 years of age) who were detained in Kara Tepe between 1st February 2021 and 31st January 2023. Data were extracted from the Knack Online Database used by INTERSOS HELLAS. Results: 701 individuals were referred to the clinic for psychosocial work, over a 2 year follow-up period, of which 165 subsequently received psychological support after initial health assessments. The majority (92.0%) of the cohort were women who were single, most from Afghanistan, Somalia, Congo, and Syria, with a range of medical and social vulnerabilities. 19.8% of the population had been subjected to gender-based violence including in their country of origin, during the migration route to Lesvos, or while on the island of Lesvos. The most common GBV incident reported was rape (48.9%) followed by physical assault (23.7%) and non-penetrative sexual assault (21.5%). 7% of the population presented with suicidal, or self-harming, behaviour, of which 26.2% had attempted suicide. Conclusion: This study highlights for the first time the stark range of vulnerabilities experienced by predominantly single women in camp settings in Greece.