Greek islands overloaded with migrants
(VOVWORLD) - The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has reiterated its call to the Greek authorities to take immediate steps to address the serious humanitarian situation for around 11,000 asylum-seekers on the islands of Samos and Lesvos as winter approaches and people continue to arrive.
 Migrants queue up to receive aided food in Indomeni village, Greece. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
Despite officially having room for only 650 people, migrant camps on Samos now have around 4,000 people. Migrant camps on Lesvos have around 6,500 people –three times their official capacity. Many asylum-seekers have had to shelter in a nearby grove.
Since the beginning of September, the UNHCR has helped 5,300 asylum-seekers authorized by the government move to the mainland. It has also provided 400 shipping containers to augment Greece’s migrant camps facilities and some 19,000 relief items for the islands, such as winter kits, sleeping bags, and hygiene items.