Since 22 January, when a lightning strike destroyed the lightning rods at VIAL Camp, the conditions have been precarious. On top of the vulnerable residents already living there, the camp is now also receiving those injured in, and survivors of, the deadly 3 February shipwreck.
VIAL only had one functional generator, which was put into operation and provided power periodically to all sectors (A, B, C, Administration and the Agnodiki area). At the beginning of this week, about ten days later, a generator that had arrived from Lesvos in the meantime was put into operation. The second generator that arrived from Lesvos is not operational, but VIAL’s administration has ordered a replacement part, which is still expected to arrive. The generator operation is a mere temporary solution while the long-term solution would be to repair the problems at the substation of the electricity network. This requires the installation of a spare part, which is expected also to arrive by the end of the week, according to the Director of VIAL, Mr I. Xenakis.
Equal Rights Beyond Borders is currently representing many beneficiaries in Vial and we have received serious complaints from them regarding their living conditions. People in Vial have shared their concerns with us, particularly families with young children who are experiencing severe cold at night, with some children falling ill. Parents have expressed valid concerns about their children's health due to the lack of heating and basic hygiene standards
“We have been living without electricity, heating, or hot water for more than two weeks. It is especially hard for my two children, who are six and eight years old. Conditions were already difficult, but since the power was cut, the cold has made everything worse. My room is damp and humid, and electricity is available only for one or two hours a day through generators.”
- Woman with two children (aged 6 and 8), 3 February 2026
“I have asthma and I suffer asthma attacks at night. Because of the cold, I often cannot sleep. Cold conditions can seriously worsen asthma, yet there is no heating, the room is cold, and the water is cold. Living in these conditions is extremely difficult.”
- Single man , 3 February 2026
According to our beneficiaries, there was no access to warm water for many days, and the air conditioners in the containers where asylum seekers reside only work for a few hours (one to four) per day. The container structures in VIAL have problems with mold, humidity and insects, such as cockroaches.
The camp authorities do not provide applicants with warm clothes or extra blankets. Some clients have reported that they are still using the same and only blanket they received upon arrival and that they are unable to wash it as it is impossible to dry it in the winter.
“There is severe humidity in our accommodation, which is worsening my son’s asthma. The room is cold, and insects are everywhere, biting my children and damaging their clothes. We do not have enough blankets or warm clothing to protect them from the cold. There is also no hot water for bathing, which seriously affects hygiene and health. In addition, there is no reliable internet access, only a weak signal outside, which cannot be used for proper communication.”
- Single mother of 4 very young children, 3 February 2026
“The main problem for us—especially elderly people and children—is the cold. There is no hot water to wash ourselves or our clothes; everything must be done with cold water. The situation becomes even more difficult during rain and storms. We are unable to maintain basic hygiene, which also prevents us from washing ourselves properly in order to pray.”
- Single mother with three minor children, 3 February 2026
The living conditions in Vial are concerning, especially now that the electricity has been cut for such a long period of time. These conditions violate the rights of asylum seekers under Art. 3 of the Convention, as they are subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment. According to art. 44 and 59 of L.4939/2022, during the reception and identification procedures, the administration should ensure that asylum seekers are provided with decent living conditions especially for vulnerable cases. The reception conditions must provide asylum seekers with an adequate standard of living, that guarantees their subsistence and protects their physical and mental health, based on respect for human dignity.
It is clear from the testimonies of our beneficiaries that the minimum standards are not being met. Shortages of the required emergency equipment (power cuts are a frequent occurrence in Chios) and relevant delays have led to people living in the dark, which has had a serious impact on their physical and mental health and their ability to cover their basic needs.
On behalf of our clients, we are urging the responsible authorities to solve the problem immediately and take all the necessary measures to prevent similar issues in the future.
We will continue to advocate for the rights of asylum seekers and provide our beneficiaries with the necessary legal support to this end.
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Contact: press@equal-rights.org