Arash - No asylum card, no social rights

After being pushed back at the Turkish-Greek border, Arash managed to reach Greece again in search of safety. Due to the pandemic and the complete suspension of the asylum system, he was forced to live on the streets for two years, which led to a drastic deterioration in his health. Having been refused asylum twice, Arash had to surrender his asylum card, losing his right to work and social security. Because he doesn’t have access to proper medical care any more, Arash’s situation is getting worse every day. Asylum-seekers whose first appeal is rejected are faced with the complete deprivation of their rights, leaving them in an extremely precarious situation. With the rejection of their asylum claim, they lose their accommodation, access to health care, access to cash assistance and the right to work, all at once.