In this article, you will find:
- Emergency numbers to contact in urgent situations.
- A step-by-step guide to finding hospitals on duty, ensuring you can access necessary medical care during emergencies.
- Organizations offering free products and services to meet basic needs, including food, clothing, showers, laundry services, and essential baby items.
Emergency numbers
In case of an emergency, please check the hotlines below:
- EU Emergency Communications Service – 112
- Ambulance – 166
- Police – 100
- Fire Department – 199
- Coast Guard -108
Women
- National Human Trafficking Resource Line – 1109
- 15900 – SOS HELP LINE for women survivor of violence
Children – Minors – Unaccompanied children
- National Emergency Response Mechanism (NERM) for Unaccompanied Minors in Precarious living conditions - 15107- mobile phone number: 0030 6942773030 (WhatsApp and Viber)
- European Helpline for Children and Adolescents 116111
- European Hotline for Missing Children 116000
- National Helpline for Children SOS 1056
- National Child Protection Line 1107
Others
- Suicide intervention helpline
- LGBTQI+ Psychological Support Line "11528 – Dipla Sou"
- Emantes' Support Line for LGBTQIA+
- Information hotline by Hellenic Red Cross
Mental Support
- EPAPSY - Psychosocial Support (PSS) helpline for refugees/asylum-seekers in Greece
- Immediate Social Assistance Line 197
- GCR Helpline (Legal aid and Psychosocial support)
Organizations that provide services free to cover your basic needs
Below you can find organizations that provide free products and services to cover your basic needs in Athens or Thessaloniki:
Athens
Accommodation
- Médecins du Monde (MdM) – Athens Night-shelter for the Homeless
- Médecins du Monde (MdM) - Open Accommodation Centre for Women and Mothers at risk with their children
Food
- Caritas Athens Caritas Athens Refugee Center [Lunch, Dry food, Clothing, Milk, Pampers]
- Faros – Faros Drop-in Center for refugee minors [Food, clothes, showers]
- INTERSOS Hellas - Food for All [Food]
- Khora Community Center – Khora Social Kitchen [Food distribution]
- Velos Youth – Youth Center for young people 16-30 years old [Laundry, shower, Food]
- Hope Café – Address: 136-138 Ioanni Drosopoulou Str., Athens. Provides basic food items to those registered. They only exclude those who are receiving cash. Registration takes place via WhatsApp at +30 6944464483
- Mano Aperta – Solidarity Kitchen
Clothing Distribution
- Caritas Athens Caritas Athens Refugee Center [Lunch, Dry food, Clothing, Milk, Pampers]
- Faros – Faros Drop-in Center for refugee minors [Food, clothes, showers]
- Humanitarian Initiative Bridges – Bridges Community Center [Clothing and items for babies]
- Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) – Magazi - JRS free-shop [Clothing, Household items, Toys]
- Khora Community Center – Khora Free Shop - Clothing, shoes and toiletries
Basic items for babies
- Amurtel – Infant and young child feeding [Basic items for babies]
- Caritas Athens Caritas Athens Refugee Center [Lunch, Dry food, Clothing, Milk, Pampers]
- Humanitarian Initiative Bridges – Bridges Community Center [Clothing and items for babies]
- Glocal Roots – Women’s and Kids’ Space [Diapers, Clothing for babies up to 3 months old]
Showers
- Faros – Faros Drop-in Center for refugee minors
- Velos Youth – Youth Center for young people 16-30 years old [Laundry, shower, Food]
Laundry services
- Ithaca Laundry – Check the schedule here.
- Velos Youth – Youth Center for young people 16-30 years old [Laundry, shower, Food]
Thessaloniki
Food
- Alkyone Day Center – Alkyone Day Center [Food, Clothing, Laundry, Showers]
- WAVE Thessaloniki - Food and non-food item distribution [Food, Laundry, Showers, Clothing, Basic Hygiene items]
Clothing Distribution
- Alkyone Day Center – Alkyone Day Center [Food, Clothing, Laundry, Showers]
- ARSIS – Support for basic needs [Clothing, Toys]
- WAVE Thessaloniki - Food and non-food item distribution [Food, Laundry, Showers, Clothing, Basic Hygiene items]
Laundry services and Shower
- Alkyone Day Center – Alkyone Day Center [Food, Clothing, Laundry, Showers]
- WAVE Thessaloniki - Food and non-food item distribution [Food, Laundry, Showers, Clothing, Basic Hygiene items]
We suggest you contact the organizations that provide the products and services before you reach their distribution facilities, as some organizations accept visits only with an appointment. You can also check with them if they require any documents. Please remember to have your asylum card or any other identity document when you visit the organization.
Find more here NGO Services provided free of charge, here.
How to Get Medicines
You can obtain subsidized medications for a small fee with an electronic prescription. Handwritten prescriptions, however, require you to pay the full price. Please note that antibiotics need a prescription. Electronic prescriptions are standard, but handwritten ones must include detailed information and specify the illness.
Social pharmacies are available to provide medications for those who cannot afford them. You can use Med4U application to search for medicines in social pharmacies or to donate unused medications. Please note that a prescription and proof of identity are required for prescription-only medications in social pharmacies. Other social pharmacies are:
Hospitals on duty
To find hospitals on duty, follow these steps:
- Click on the page that provides information about the hospitals on duty.
- Once the webpage loads, select English as your preferred language if it's not already selected.
- Choose your location from the available options.
- Next, you can specify the type of urgent medical service you require by selecting it from the provided list. For example, if you need Gynaecology or Dermatology services, choose the respective option. If you want to see all duties available, you can select "All duties" from the list.
- After making your selection, the website will display the results. You will see the name of the hospital, its address, and contact information (such as the call centre number), as well as the dates and hours of the day when the hospital is on duty. Additionally, you will find information about the type of services provided by that hospital.
By following these steps, you will be able to find hospitals on duty in your desired location and obtain detailed information about their availability and the services they offer. If you need help, please send a message to Refugee.Info Facebook page.
Refugee and Migrant Communities
A refugee and migrant community is a group of individuals who form to provide mutual support, share experiences, and a sense of belonging and safety for individuals who have undergone similar challenges during their displacement. They support the integration of recently arrived refugees into their societies, including access to essential services, and they advocate raising awareness about the challenges faced by refugees and migrants.
Joining such a community allows individuals to connect with others who have similar experiences. At the same time, it allows you to access resources and information that can be crucial during the asylum procedure.
Find more: Refugee and Migrant Communities
Submitting Complaints Mechanisms
Complaint mechanisms are established reporting channels by organizations, independent bodies and public services to facilitate the submission of complaints. These mechanisms are available to everyone without exception and allow individuals to report problems, malfunctions, and violations across diverse sectors, such as public administration, employment, the healthcare system, human rights, incidents of racist violence, etc.
Find more: Submitting Complaints Mechanisms
Contact us
If you have any other questions, please check our website. You may find your answer there or message us on Messenger, WhatsApp or Instagram.