Galery

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With each passing day, the number of parents who cannot feed their children increases. Humanitarian crisis destroys social structures and the nightmarish consequences are visible in the Children's SOS Villages, to which hundreds of families turn for help.

"They come and beg us to take their children, saying that they themselves are unable to care for them. This trend appeared in 2010 and has steadily increased since then," said Stergios Sifnios, director of social work and research in "The SOS Villages”.

"During the first half of 2011, these cases increased by 65 percent ​​compared with the same period last year. In absolute terms, out of every 1000 cases, which our business covers, 250 relate to housing and child care in the villages, where over 800 cases need economic aid."

From 2010 parents living below the poverty line began to appear at the offices of "SOS Villages ", asking if they were able to accommodate their children there. They want them to remain there until the parents find work. Many of them have lost their jobs and in many cases they are single parents.

For the most part, these are Greeks (80 percent) and only 20 percent are economic migrants.

"We try to support families by providing advice, material aid, food, clothing, and sometimes money, such as helping them to pay their rent. But we have accepted very few children whose families have financial problems and  want the children to return to the family. Our goal is to help the parents and prevent them separating from the child," explains Mr. Sifnios and notes that the “SOS Villages" also have a lot of problems because donations have decreased and lack of social structures increases the incessant needs of the people.

In addition to the "SOS Villages" in Vari, Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli, operating are three centres for family support are in operation and another centre in Heraklion, Crete, is being established.

At the same time, many orphanages are facing difficulties. They are unable to cover their basic operating costs and their doors are threatened with closure. Today the private sector has 20 orphanages that give hundreds of children a place to stay, and survive with the help of other institutions. Meanwhile, there are 19 institutions with 950 children operating in the public sector, and another 400 children are in foster care.

The crisis has led to a rapid increase in the social housing applications, while donations have decreased dramatically. Another reason for the deplorable situation of these institutions, however, is also the inability of the government to settle the matter with the use of property in wills.