1) 119 individuals arrived in Kos, Greece from December 1-31, 2016, comprising more than 7% of the total sea arrivals in Greece. The main accommodation site is the Reception and Identification Center (RIC) which has capacity for 1,000 people. 2) UNHCR provides assistance to new arrivals, identifies vulnerable individuals, monitors protection issues, and advocates with authorities to ensure an adequate response. Gaps include substandard conditions for 260 people in the RIC annex and lack of integration of refugee children into public schools. 3) From December 1-31, UNHCR distributed 3,258 core relief items through its partner and provided hotel accommodation to 104 vulnerable individuals from the RIC

1. 1
Kos ISLAND - GREECE
FACTSHEET #11
1/12/2016 – 31/12/2016
HIGHLIGHTS
3%
Of total
arrivals by sea
in Greece in
2016 passed
through Kos
119
Total arrivals to
Kos from 1
December- 31
December 2016
131
Arrivals as result of
Inter- island
transfers from 1
December- 31
December 2016
104
Vulnerable PoCs
accommodated to
Argos
accommodation
facility
5
Vulnerable PoCs relocated
to mainland under UNHCR
accommodation/transpor
tation scheme
3,258
Non-food items
(NFIs) from 1
December- 31
December 2016
Population Trends Staffing and Presence
Total arrivals in Kos (1 January 2016 – 31 December 2016):
5,266 (out of 173,447 who have arrivedto Greece
through sea in 2016)
Average daily arrivals during December 2016 in Kos:
approx. 4 per day
Staff: 21 staff currently deployed
Presence:
Kos
Daily Arrivals in Kos (December 2016)
Distribution of the population in Kos (December 2016)
UNHCRFACTSHEET

2. UNHCR Factsheet #11 – Kos Island - Greece
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) –www.unhcr.org
2
Legal status of the population at the RIC Distribution of the population in relation to
accommodation
OPERATIONAL CONTEXT
119 individuals, more than 7 per cent, of the 1.661 refugees and migrants who arrived in Greece by the Aegean Sea from
1 December 2016 to 31 December 2016 have landed in the Greek island of Kos, which is the island receiving the fourth
highest number of arrivals, following Lesvos, Samos and Chios. Moreover 131 PoCs were transferred from Kalymnos
(#125) and Rhodes (#6) to Kos in the course of December. The estimated departures to mainland amount approximately
to 1 person every other day.
Most of the refugees and migrants arrive to the shores of Lampi, Psalidi and Agios Fokas. The vast majority of new arrivals
are getting transferred to the RIC by the Hellenic Coast Guard or by transportation service provided by the Governor.
The main accommodation site in Kos is the RIC, which has a capacity to
provide shelter to approximately 1,000 individuals. UNHCR and partners,
continuously, provide support in terms of WASH, Shelter and medical
services. Throughout December, UNHCR assisted in the coordination
between Samaritan’s Purse and the Hellenic Army with regard to the
winterization of all 19 tents, placed at the Annex of the RIC. Moreover, UNHCR
and partners continue the provision of dignified and up to standard
accommodation for vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers after the
restrictions of liberty are lifted. UNHCR manages a hotel based
accommodation facility, named Argos, in addition to 15 studios made
available by ARSIS. UNHCR has permanent presence at the sites through its
Field and Protection Team.
Top nationalities arriving and remaining in Kos due to the geographical restriction policy, are Syrians, Iraqis, Afghanis,
Iranians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and other people from various Asian countries.
As result of the EU-Turkey deal all new arrivals (with the exception of cases of vulnerable PoCs) once registered are now
subject to restriction of liberty until the administrative procedure is completed. UNHCR gained access to these individuals
and provided information about asylum procedures. During December no Police Notes were issued for arrivals of the same
month, consequently 12% of the population at the RIC remains restricted.
MAIN ACTIVITIES
Reception capacity on the island
Achievements and impact
 Assistance to new arrivals at pre-registration stage. UNHCR provides immediate response upon arrival at the RIC to
persons of concern. Core relief items are distributed, by UNHCR’s partner Samaritan’s Purse, and information is
provided on the legal procedures that follow. Persons with specific needs, particularly Unaccompanied and Separated
Children (UASCs), are identified, assisted, and referred to the appropriate channels. Two dedicated transit facilities for
UASCs are established respectively in cooperation with a National NGO (Praksis) and an International NGO (Save the
Children) which provide an alternative to detention as the only mean of custody available in the island.
 Protection monitoring, reporting and advocacy. Gaps and risks, as well as good practices related to access to territory
Coordination between UNHCR, Samaritan’s Purse
and the Hellenic Army regarding the winterization of
the tents at the Annex of the RIC

3. UNHCR Factsheet #11 – Kos Island - Greece
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) –www.unhcr.org
3
and access to asylum are identified and reported on a daily basis with the ultimate goal
of ensuring a protective environment for persons of concern. UNHCR advocates with the
authorities to ensure that the emergency response is protection centered.
 Reception and Identification Centre – Kos Pyli. UNHCR is present at the RIC to
cover several functions such as provision of information on rights and obligations, asylum
procedures; identification and referral of vulnerable individuals; support to alternative
vulnerable individuals and other protection services. Moreover, UNHCR is implementing
a multi-sectoral support plan (engagement plan developed by UNHCR and RIS). In
December rehabilitation interventions related to electric needs were implemented at the
accommodation and UASC area of the RIC, while technical support was provided for the
installation of fire extinguishers for the 19 tents located at the Annex area of the RIC.
Identified needs and remaining gaps
 Conditions in the annex of the RIC of Kos remain substandard due to lack of accommodation and access to WASH
facility for approximately 260 individuals. Issues related to the lack of clarity on the authority exercising jurisdiction
over the area, prevent UNHCR and other humanitarian actors set additional shelter and sanitation facilities.
 Extended presence of unaccompanied and separated children under “protective custody” at the RIC, restricted in a
separated areas without 24/7 supervision and specialized services, remain a serious source of concern for UNHCR.
 As the school year started concerns are raised on the limited integration of refugee children to the public education
system (only 6 refugee children have been enrolled into classes).
Humanitarian assistance
Achievements and impact
 UNHCR provides Core Relief and Non-Food Items (CRIs and NFIs)
to refugees and migrants through its partner Samaritan’s Purse.
Between 1 December and 31 December 3,258 aid items have been
distributed on the island by UNHCR. SP proceeded to the
distribution of winter jackets and shoes, as part of the UNHCR
winterization plan.
 UNHCR in an attempt to serve basic shelter and protection needs
for the individuals who fall under the UNHCR vulnerability criteria
has provided accommodation to 104 PoCs through the hotel based
accommodation scheme during December. The recipients of hotel
accommodation are vulnerable individuals (persons with specific
needs including medical and mental health cases, pregnant
women, elderly persons and protection cases among others) transported
form the RIC following the lifting of the restrictions of liberty.
 UNHCR continues to implement a transport service to ensure a
mean of transport between the RIC, ARGOS and Kos town for vulnerable
refugees and asylum seekers.
 UNHCR in partnership with WAHA ensures medical coverage
during night through its hotline and during day at ARGOS through its
mobile clinic. Furthermore considering that the residents of the RIC-annex
have no access to medical services inside the RIC, WAHA has stepped-in
to grant access to medical services. Throughout December 484 medical
examinations were provided to PoCs.
Facilitation of access to registration procedures
Achievements and impact
 UNHCR identifies and refers for priority registration and lifting of geographical restriction people with specific needs,
including unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), elderly, pregnant women, single-headed households,
Distributions 1-31 December 2016
Items Quantity
Blankets 367
Sleeping mats and bags 512
Winter Clothing and Shoes 1.207
Household Items 101
Wheel chairs and crutches 0
Hygiene & Cleaning Items 148
Food Parcels 390
Water Bottles 533
Fire extinguishers installed by
UNHCR at Annex of the RIC
Workshop on sexual and reproductive health at
ARGOS facility by WAHA

4. UNHCR Factsheet #11 – Kos Island - Greece
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) –www.unhcr.org
4
medical cases and families with young children, people with disabilities and
survivors of shipwrecks.
 UNHCR supports asylum AU by referring the vulnerable PoCs identified.
 UNHCR, through its partner Metadrasi, provides legal assistance to PoCs,
including UACs, in the framework of the access to legal aid foreseen by
EU and national law for asylum seekers. In the course of December,
lawyers of Metadrasi filed applications for the lifting of geographical
restriction for a number of PoCs that have reached the deadline that the
border procedure sets for the Asylum Service to issue a decision on the
asylum application.
Identified needs and remaining gaps
 A number of PoCs in the annex identified as UASCs by UNHCR were found wrongfully registered by the authorities as
adults. UNHCR refers these cases to RIS for age assessment however, until the assessment is concluded, child
protection risks remain.
 The practice regarding the “notification of will” note, which started being delivered to the newly arrived PoCs in
November upon expression of intent to apply for asylum, was not systematized in the course of December.
Protection
Achievements and impact
 UNHCR conducts group and individual information sessions on asylum prospects for new arrivals.
 UNHCR also continues to support people with specific needs through identification, referral and support by partners,
including cases in need of medical and psychosocial care.
 A child friendly space is run by UNHCR’s partner Save the Children (SCI) at Argos accommodation facility. Throughout
December more than 50 children have passed by the child friendly space (CFS), where they were occupied in a
creative way by the recreational activities provided by Save the Children. The provision of the aforementioned
activities was also extended to the children that are residing at the RIC through carrying out recreational activities
during morning hours.
 UNHCR and CP partners continue to implement
activities for UACs residing at the RIC for the
purpose of improving the quality of their stay there.
79 UACs, residents of the RIC, were benefited by
excursions organized jointly by UNHCR, SCI and RIS.
 UNHCR-Praksis and UNHCR-Save the Children
transit facilities provide a protective and child-
friendly environment to unaccompanied children
(UASC) arriving to Kos. In the course of November
6 UACs in addition to 27 who remained hosted since November were accommodated at the UNHCR-Praksis facility,
while 37 UACs continued to be accommodated at the UNHCR-SCI facility. Top nationalities of the UACs are Pakistanis,
Afghans, Syrians and Bangladeshis, the ages of whom vary from 13 to 17 years old.
 In the course of December the number of refugee children that have been officially enrolled in primary schools of
Kos, due to parents’ initiative and with support and advocacy of UNHCR and partners, has amounted to a total of 6
cases.
 In the broader context of the festive period, after liaising with RIS
and Kos Municipality, UNHCR and partners organized two festive
events with entertainers for the residents of the RIC and ARGOS
accommodation.
 UNHCR celebrated the Nansen award honoring the Kos branch of
the Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT), by organizing a ceremony at Kos
Marina with participation of local authorities.
 In the context of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), UNHCR delivered
educational equipment to several schools in Kos and Kalymnos, as a
sign of gratitude and in recognition of the generosity and support of
the host community to refugees.
Football match between the UACs, residents of the UNHCR-Praksis and UNHCR-
SCI transit facilities
PoCs and entertainers at the RIC of Kos, in
view of the festive period
UNHCR, Kos HRT, and Kos’ Vice Mayors in the ceremony
to celebrate the Nansen award

5. UNHCR Factsheet #11 – Kos Island - Greece
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) –www.unhcr.org
5
 Numerous activities continue to take place at the community center at the RIC. These
activities include projections of short films and documentaries, language lessons (Greek,
English and native), recreational excursions, pottery workshop, sports activities and painting
classes. They are organized jointly by UNHCR, RIS, Praksis, MC, SP, Metadrasi and SCI.
 Further to the above activities, guitar lessons and a sewing workshop commenced during
December. These activities deploy community members as trainers.
 In the framework of 16 days of activism against SGBV, UNHCR partner WAHA conducted
2 workshops on sexual and reproductive help for different target groups of PoCs at ARGOS
facility and UNHCR-SCI transit facility for UASCs.
 UNHCR advocates for prioritized lifting of geographical restriction for the concerned
vulnerable PoCs. In course of December, geographical restriction was lifted for 27 vulnerable
PoCs accommodated by UNHCR further to coordination advocacy efforts to Kos AU and RIS.
Vulnerable POCs continue to be assisted with transportation and accommodation by
UNHCR in order to relocate to mainland. In the course of December 5 PoCs travelled to
mainland under UNHCR accommodation/transportation scheme.
Identified needs and remaining gaps
 The risk of refugees entrusting their lives to smugglers to avoid the restriction of personal liberty and the geographic
restriction in the island is very high and seems to have the capacity to attract the interest of refugees and migrants.
 Main focus of asylum procedures, during December, was processing cases of applicants from country with low
recognition rate (below 25% i.e. Pakistani nationals) on eligibility. It is worth noting that a significant number of
Pakistani nationals called for registration did not appear before the AU, resulting in the withdrawal of their asylum will
on behalf of Kos AU.
 The examination of asylum claims of nationals (i.e. Iraqis, Afghanis, Iranians and Palestinians) other than Syrians with
over 25% recognition rate by the Asylum Unit (AU) remains on hold in Kos. Vulnerable PoCs of the aforementioned
nationalities get fully registered and are referred to the mainland for further processing.
 Delays are still noted in the registration of asylum applications of UASCs, although the registration pace has been
accelerated.
 The number of cases in need of legal aid at 2nd
instance asylum procedures remains high.
 Decisions (on eligibility) rejecting asylum applications of PoCs at 2nd
instance started being notified to Pakistani
nationals who are consequently led to detention in view of readmission. Concerns over the modalities of the
notification process have been raised. Exclusion of PoCs of this legal status from the AVRR scheme in practice in Kos
are an issue of concern as well.
 The slow pace of the placement process of UASCs both from the RIC to transit facilities in Kos and further on to shelters
on the mainland remains a matter of concern.
 Detention conditions at Kos Police Department remain substandard. Detainees have no access to medical care, CRIs
and to yarding.
 Concerns related to uncertainty regarding the level of responsibility that RIS has over the Annex remain.
 Security concerns were raised in the course of December by a number of PoCs, residents of the RIC. Concerns pertained
to a demonstration and fire at the RIC in the framework of a hunger strike protest by some of the guests.
WORKING WITH PARTNERS
 A bi-weekly coordination mechanism has been established for the RIC, with meeting chaired by RIS and facilitated by
UNHCR. The meeting serves an inter-sector working group for actors operational at the RIC. RIS, Police, Hellenic Army,
Asylum Service, Frontex, UNHCR and NGOs actively participate to the meeting.
 Furthermore UNHCR facilitates a bi-weekly coordination meeting amongst the different actors (mainly NGOs and
volunteers) that operate activities in Kos not only in the RIC. In order to make the coordination more effective
Protection Working Group, NFI & Shelter Working Group and Food Working Group, as well as Health, CwC and
Educational meetings, are also established and maintained with the support of UNHCR and other organizations which
participate.
Contacts:
Marco Procaccini - Head of Field Office, UNHCR Office in Kos, procacci@unhcr.org
Stergiani Stogiannou, Senior Data Management Assistant, UNHCR Greece, STOGIANN@unhcr.org
Links: Arrival figures website - Refugee stories - Facebook – Twitter
The ceremony for delivering
educational equipment to schools
in Kos and Kalymnos