Μake us preferred on Google Three children from the municipality of Ziros in northwestern Greece have been staying at Preveza Hospital since Tuesday, September 1, following a prosecutor’s order over allegations of neglect and malnutrition.
The children — two boys, ages 13 and 7, and an 8-year-old girl — were found alone at their home after their uncle filed a complaint alleging that their father had neglected them.
The father had been caring for the children after their mother left the family about five months earlier.
The father denies the allegations, saying he worked to support his children and did not leave them without supervision.
“They came and took the children in the afternoon. I don’t know why. First of all, my wife left two days before Easter. She abandoned us, and I supported my children. They are not neglected. That is wrong. I took good care of my children. I did not abandon my children,” he said.
Father says children were left with their uncle
The father said he worked for daily wages near his home and that his brother was present with the children while he was away.
“I was going to work, for a day’s wage. I worked on Egnatia, that is, near my house, half an hour, an hour. I would go and come back. But while I had my children and left in the morning, my brother was there. Otherwise, I would not have gone to work,” he said.
He also said he had recently slept in his car because he was unable to sleep at home, describing the situation as stressful.
Concerns over children’s safety
Michalis Giannakos, president of the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees (POEDHN), raised concerns about the children’s safety while they remain at the hospital.
He said the father was outside the hospital and had threatened to take the children away.
“This is another case of parking children in a public hospital,” Giannakos said, arguing that hospital staff cannot be expected to provide security for children who require protection.
He also questioned whether nurses and doctors could be responsible for guarding large numbers of children in similar situations.
At the same time, authorities are examining allegations that the father had previously used violence against the mother.
Officials are also searching for an appropriate welfare facility where the three children can be accommodated.
