Refugees to start receiving financial aid as of March, says Mouzalas
The government will start replacing common meals with financial assistance to refugees as of March, Migration Policy Minister Yiannis Mouzalas said on Monday, speaking to SKAI TV station.
The financial aid will be given to all refugees residing in the mainland while those staying in camps on the islands will be excluded, the minister said, adding the amount for each refugee family will be one euro less than the minimum guaranteed income of a Greek family, “for symbolic reasons”.
Asked about the EU-Turkey deal, he said that if it collapses, Greece will face “a very difficult situation” which is why refugees cannot be transferred from the islands.
Mouzalas also said 50,000 refugees and migrants have so far been registered noting the government aims to distribute them to more centers which are currently under construction.