Migrants on mainland Greece pre-registered
The pre-registration of thousands of migrants stranded on the Greek mainland, a process that gives them access to the country’s asylum procedure, has been completed, authorities said Monday.
Meanwhile, individuals who have found temporary shelter on the eastern Aegean islands are expected to complete their registration by mid-August, Greece’s Asylum Service said.
A total of 20,100 migrants registered between June 9, when the European Union-funded scheme was established, and July 9, according to official data. A 56 percent majority of them were men. The number includes 690 unaccompanied minors, most of them from Afghanistan.
Once they complete the process, individuals are granted the temporary right to remain in Greece and access to basic health and education services.
Those who have completed registration will receive a text message on their cell phone informing them of a date and location for their next meeting with Asylum Service officials at which they can submit their request for relocation to another EU state or reuniting with their family elsewhere.
A small number who have not yet pre-registered are invited to do so via Skype.
A total of 57,115 migrants and asylum seekers are currently in Greece, according to fresh data provided by the government Monday. Of these, an estimated 9,399 are on the eastern Aegean islands.
