THESSALONIKI — Two new safe zones for unaccompanied minors were set up in the migrant facilities of Vagiohori (East of Thessaloniki) and Filipiada (NW of Arta), the International Organization of Migration (IOM) said on Monday, with the support of the European Commission, Greek authorities and NGOs.

IOM said the new units bring the total of safe zones on mainland Greece to 15, with a capacity of 450. A total of 1,048 unaccompanied minors have been housed at safe zones since the start of 2020, it said, most of them originating from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Bangladesh and Syria.

Facilities provide educational and creative activities, sports and transportation where needed, aiming at the children's eventual integration into local societies.

In addition, IOM and NGO Arsis have a mobile interdisciplinary unit working in the border region of Evros, visiting and supporting children at the border station's reception and identification facility.