Seen by many refugees as the transient point en route to other European countries, Athens is both increasingly a place of protracted confinement following the March 2016 EU-Turkey Deal, but also a place where radical solidarity movements have emerged. The city is entangled with anarchist activism in the context of wider austerity politics following the 2008 financial crisis.

Stakeholders provide a range of services to refugees, from “frontline” aid to long-term support. Interviews with civil sector emphasised the changing opportunities and landscape of European money, which is further complicated by state declarations that they want to provide everything (though they don’t and can’t). In this gap come NGOs and a vibrant volunteer sector but increasingly a space and demand for private sector involvement.