The International Organization for Migration (IOM) presented data for the EU resettlement program for this week that showed that 82 asylum seekers, including 11 unaccompanied children, had left Greece for Finland. IOM said that 42 of these people, mostly Syrians, had been relocated on Monday whereas a second group of 38 Syrians, an Iraqi and an Eritrian left the country for Helsinki on Friday.
The program has so far seen 419 people relocated from Greece to Finland: 281 Syrians, 95 Iraqis, nine Yemenis, nine Eritrians and 25 people from unidentified states. The make-up of the relocations included 180 children traveling with their family members as well as 38 unaccompanied minors.
Chrysanthi Argyrou, IOM’s Pre-Departure Coordinator, said that Finland has accepted the 90 percent of unaccompanied children that it offers support and assistance to following their relocation that helps them adapt.
Since November, 3,493 asylum seekers were relocated to other EU countries from Greece, whereas 656 are scheduled to leave Greece as part of the program in September.
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