ELIL provides free, independent legal assistance to refugees on Lesvos and Samos. Amid fresh challenges faced by the tens of thousands of displaced people on these islands, particularly following the devastating fire in Moria camp, meaningful access to justice and legal assistance is more important than ever.

There are still thousands of refugees living in camps on Lesvos and Samos. The  fire in Moria camp on Lesvos, and the Covid-19 outbreaks on both islands, have worsened already dire conditions and limited services even further. Despite this,  asylum and family reunification procedures are continuing. These are legal procedures and independent, expert assistance is therefore urgently needed to help people through them and, ultimately, enable them to leave the camps.

ELIL offers legal information and assistance to refugees, including unaccompanied children. Over the past year, ELIL's field offices in Lesvos burned down and our office on Samos sustained earthquake damage. Despite this, we have worked to adapt to each challenge and, thanks to our incredible team and community of volunteers, we have been able to continue to provide our vital services. Your support can help ELIL defend access to much-needed legal assistance for asylum seekers in Greece.

ELIL has assisted over 11,000 people in the past four years.

Of those we have assisted, 74.5% have been granted asylum, compared to an average of 46.5% in Greece, meaning they are granted protection and do not have to return to face war, violence or persecution in their home country. We have also helped 1,000 people, including 300 unaccompanied children, be reunited with family members elsewhere in Europe.

As our organisation is volunteer-based, our operational costs are low: it costs only 25€ to provide an asylum seeker with free, tailored, one on one legal assistance from a practising, experienced European asylum lawyer. We are not funded by the EU or the Greek Government.