Islands struggle with growing migrant crisis
Coast guard officers intercepted more than 1,650 undocumented immigrants off various islands in the eastern Aegean within 48 hours, officials said Thursday as fears grow that Greek authorities lack the means to deal with the intensifying influx of desperate people.
The migrants were detained following rescue operations off several islands, including Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Agathonisi, Kalymnos and Kos.
Hundreds more migrants have been traced inland on many of the islands, officials said.
Apart from inadequate infrastructure to deal with the influx, local authority officials are also low on funds following the closure of banks last week.
The situation on Lesvos is said to be particularly bad with reports of almost daily scuffles between migrants. A fracas between migrants at the island’s main port yesterday left several people with minor injuries. According to sources, the Afghan migrants on the island are angry because they believe Syrians get better treatment. Meanwhile, some 4,000 migrants being accommodated at a makeshift settlement blocked a main road in protest at the lack of toilets.
Local authorities on Samos and Chios also warned that they are unable to deal with the number of migrants arriving on the islands.
In a related development, coast guard officers yesterday continued to search for 13 migrants who had been missing since Wednesday when their sailing boat foundered between the islets of Farmakonisi and Agathonisi.
According to coast guard officials, five bodies have been found, three by Turkish officers and two by their Greek counterparts. A total of 19 migrants were rescued.
