Greece plans more apartments for migrants

A Greek cabinet official for immigration says the government is planning to substantially increase apartment housing for the 57,000 refugees and other migrants trapped in the country.

Deputy Defense Minister Dimitris Vitsas, who heads a task force on migration, said Tuesday the government wants to close or improve many of the state-run refugee camps on the mainland.

Fewer than 7,000 people now live in apartments or hotels, well short of the initially targeted 20,000.

Vitsas also announced plans to alleviate congested conditions at island camps, which have housed all new arrivals since a European Union-Turkey deal in March.

About 10,000 people are in the island camps, in conditions criticized by humanitarian organizations.

Vitsas said refugees who have completed the first stage of their asylum application can move to the mainland.

[AP]