Across the north of Greece winter preparation has slowly started, with temperatures reaching as low as 3C in many areas. Refugees are sleeping in makeshift camps in disused warehouses and factories, under cloth tents and many without heating. Volunteer groups are filling the gaps where the official response has not provided: constructing wooden pallet flooring for tents to bring people off cold cement floors while they sleep, distributing warm clothes to women, men and children, and even rehabilitating buildings to provide safe and warm lodging inside apartments for the most vulnerable. Millions of euros of EU funds and lack-luster coordination by Greek authorities have not made the difference and an urgent improvement is necessary. 8 months after the borders were shut and the EU-Turkey deal signed, mass arrivals have ceased but conditions for refugees in Greece are not getting better.

Volunteer-lead responses and European citizens have made up for the worsening conditions refugees are living in across the country. Authorities should take notice.