Refugees forced to claim asylum in ‘jail-like’ camps as Greece tightens system

Aid agencies fear plans to scrap applications via Skype are an attempt to control and contain rather than help asylum seekers

When Hadi Karam*, a soft-spoken Syrian, decided to leave the war-stricken city of Raqqa, he knew the journey to Europe would be risky. What he had not factored in was how technology would be a stumbling block once he reached Greece.

I never thought Skype would be the problem," says the young professional, recounting his family's ordeal trying to contact asylum officers in the country. You ring and ring and ring. Weeks and weeks go by, and there is never any answer."