Transportation
City buses
The Chios City Bus central station is located at 1 Dimokratias street. Buses run daily from 6:30 to 19:30. From there you can take buses for all over the city and nearby destinations. The station is very close to Souda camp.
But the Chios City Bus company does not operate a direct connection to Vial camp. The closest route they have is to Chalkio which is 6 kilometers from Vial. The bus ticket to Chalkio costs 1.60 euro.
However, UNHCR does operate a direct bus link between Chios town and Vial for refugees only with approximately 10 buses per day.
For more information about Chios City Bus you can click here or call +30 22710 22079.
Intercity buses of Chios (KTEL)
If you need to travel around the island outside of Chios town, then you can take the intercity buses of Chios (KTEL).
The intercity bus station is located at 14 Aegeou Avenue, at Chios Port, at the same building with the Port Passengers Terminal.
The station operates from 05:30 to 14:00 during winter and from 05:30 to 16:30 during summer. Tickets are issued at the booking office or on the bus without extra charge.
For more information about itineraries, timetables and fares click here or call +30 22710 27507.
Taxi
There are four main taxi stations within the town of Chios:
- In Vounakiou square (near the city bus station);
- In 1 Koudourioti street (the street leads to the beach);
- Outside “Skylitseio” General Hospital of Chios;
- Outside the North Aegean Administrative Region at 1 Polytechniou street.
Note: Taxis in Chios are coloured burgundy (a deep red colour) and white, whereas taxis operating in villages are silver-coloured.
Also, the radio taxi company is operating 24 hours a day in Chios:
- Radio Taxi Chios. +30 22710 41111; +30 22710 43312; +30 6984 969119; +30 6908 386900; +30 6949 904885; For more information: www.chiosradiotaxi.gr
The minimum fare is 3.5 euro and 5 euro on call. Most routes within the town cost around that sum. The fare for destinations outside the town is 1.10 euro per kilometer.
Emergency contacts
Greek Police 100
Greek Ambulance Service 166
European Emergency Number 112
Fire Brigade 199
Greek Police - Information Centre 1033
Coast Guard 108
Helpline SOS 1016
Helpline SOS for Children 1056
Poison Control Centre + 30 210 7793777
Local Police Station - Officer on Duty + 30 22710 81537, + 30 22710 81535
Chios Coast Guard + 30 22710 44433
Health
Access to public hospitals and medical clinics
Asylum seekers, recognised refugees, people with subsidiary protection and stateless people by Greek law have free access to Greek public hospitals and medical clinics.
- General Hospital of Chios. ”Skylitseio” General Hospital of Chios (link only in Greek) operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is located at 2 Elenas Venizelou street. Call centre: +30 2271350 100 Social service: +30 2271350 180 Email: xioshosp@otenet.gr
Note:
- You would need a referral by a NGO providing health services at the site or location of your residence or by the Greek Reception and Identification Service to attend the hospital.
- However, by Greek law (link only in Greek) assistance for health emergencies will be provided to anyone who needs it.
To get to the hospital, you can take the bus from 6 Dimokratias street (the bus station is outside the Citizen’s Service Center of Chios Municipality - KEP).
In case of a health emergency
In case of a health emergency you can dial 166 (Greek Ambulance Service) or the European Emergency Number 112.
Health services at sites and locations
- Health services are available at Souda and Vial sites by NGOs and volunteers;
- NGOs provide healthcare services at hosting facilities they run on the island;
- For more information: Medical assistance by NGOs in Greece
Pharmacies
In Chios you can find a pharmacy anytime, during daytime or at night. Every pharmacy in Greece has a list of the weekly “on duty pharmacies” in the window.
Asylum & Legal assistance
For information on the asylum procedure in Greece you can:
- Visit the website of Greek Asylum Service, with asylum information in 18 languages;
- Contact the Regional Asylum Office of Chios in Chalkio;
- Call the Asylum Help Line on +30 210 6988 660, with recorded information in 10 languages;
- Contact a UNHCR representative at your location.
How you can get legal assistance:
In case you need help in your asylum application process or relocation request or family reunification request, the following NGOs provide currently legal assistance in Chios:
- Greek Council for Refugees (GCR). For more information about the provided services, contact directly the organisation;
- METAdrasi offers legal aid to persons entitled to international protection. The lawyers team is based at Vial site. For more information about the provided services, contact directly the organisation;
Assisted Voluntary Return from Greek islands
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has launched a new reintegration package within the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme. The new package exclusively concerns non-vulnerable third country nationals who are currently hosted on the Greek islands, such as Chios.
For more information:
- Contact IOM Office in Chios at +30 6955 466613;
- Reintegration package for returnees from islands
Education
How to get access to Greek public schools educational programmes
The best way is to go directly to the education coordinator appointed by the Greek Ministry of Education. The education coordinator’s office is located within Vial camp. If you are not located in Vial, you can contact the education coordinator through the Greek Reception and Identification Service (RIS) Office or ask NGO staff in your location to register you.
Informal educational activities
- At Vial site. Currently, there is a variety of informal courses and educational activities provided in Vial by NGOs, volunteers and institutions, such as:
- In coordination with the Ministry of Education, Greek teachers (OAED) operate a preschool twice a week, every Monday and Thursday, within the site. You can register your child by contacting directly the education coordinator located within Vial;
- SAM SAM (Socio-emotional Awareness Management - Sharing Arts & Music), a local volunteer group, organises open informal educational activities for children within the site, in collaboration with the education coordinator;
- Be Aware and Share (BAAS), a swiss volunteer group, organises courses in English, Mathematics and Natural Sciences within the site;
- Save the Children operates a space right next to Vial site where courses in Greek, Mathematics and environmental education are provided. For more information, contact directly Save the Children staff.
- At Souda site. Currently, the following informal courses and educational activities are provided in Souda by volunteers:
- SAM SAM (Socio-emotional Awareness Management - Sharing Arts & Music), a local volunteer group, organises open informal educational activities for children within the site;
- Be Aware and Share (BAAS), a swiss volunteer group, organises courses in English, Mathematics and Natural Sciences within the site. For more information, contact directly Be Aware and Share staff.
Social & cultural activities
- At Vial site. Currently, the following social and cultural activities are offered in Vial by NGOs and volunteers, such as:
- SAM SAM (Socio-emotional Awareness Management - Sharing Arts & Music), a local volunteer group, organises music, painting and art lessons for children within the site, in collaboration with the education coordinator;
- Be Aware and Share (BAAS), a swiss volunteer group, organises recreational activities such as trips to archaeological sites. For more information, contact directly Be Aware and Share staff;
- Save the Children operates a space right next to Vial site where recreational activities are provided. For more information, contact directly Save the Children staff.
- At Souda site. Currently, the following social and cultural activities are offered in Souda by NGOs and volunteers:
- SAM SAM (Socio-emotional Awareness Management - Sharing Arts & Music), a local volunteer group, organises music, painting and art lessons for children within the site, in collaboration with the education coordinator;
- Be Aware and Share (BAAS), a swiss volunteer group, organises recreational activities such as trips to archaeological sites. For more information, contact directly Be Aware and Share staff;
- A Drop in the Ocean, a mainly volunteer organisation, organises recreational activities for children, such as music and singing lessons, drawing and dancing. For more information, contact directly Drop in the Ocean staff.
- In town
- SAM SAM (Socio-emotional Awareness Management - Sharing Arts & Music), a local volunteer group, organises open art and cultural events for children in the town of Chios, in Mersinidi, at the port, at the Municipal Central Park. For more information: http://www.lathra.gr/action/521-sam-sam-for-children;
- Be Aware and Share (BAAS), a swiss volunteer group, organises social and cultural activities, such as music and poetry nights in Farsi, Arabic, English and Greek, in the town of Chios. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/563797890439248/;
- “Agora”, a community centre opened by Norwegian Refugee Council, organises events and activities that aim to bring together local community and refugees. For more information, click here and contact directly NRC staff.
