The non-profit organisation PRAKSIS on Wednesday announced that it was forced to suspend the operation of all 11 PRAKSIS shelters accommodating unaccompanied minors as of January 1, 2019, while calling on the relevant ministries to take immediate action to resolve the problems that have arisen.

The organisation levelled accusations of an "inconsistent attitude by state bodies that have undertaken to finance the operation of all structures for hosting unaccompanied minors," in the last year and a half, and "an unjustified and unbearable delay in the disbursement of the funds to ensure the proper functioning of the Hospitality Centers for Unaccompanied Minors, as well as the completion of the process for approving their funding and including them in the National Programme of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Fund Security and other resources."

PRAKSIS noted that it is unable to cover the operating costs of shelters (food, rent and utility bills, employee wages and employers' contributions, financial demands of suppliers, etc).

Despite attempts, "it has not yet been possible to find a solution to long delays in both financial disbursements and bureaucratic procedures for approving funding," it added.

The organisation urged the state to "even at the last minute, understand that the situation is critical and actively demonstrate its willingness to find a solution." It also asked the ministries involved (economy and development, migration policy, labour and social solidarity) to take direct initiatives to resolve the situation.

PRAKSIS clarified that it is making every effort to ensure the safe transfer and placement of all children in safe accommodation and that it has already informed the employees in its shelters, who number 176.

More than 2,500 children have been housed in reception facilities for unaccompanied minors in Attica, Thessaloniki, Patras, Lesvos, Samos and Kos. The total capacity of these shelters currently stands at 239 and represents 20 pct of the total reception capacity on a national level.