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Greece: Hundreds of migrants rescued in Crete and transferred to Lesbos and Samos

Greece: Hundreds of migrants rescued in Crete and transferred to Lesbos and Samos
Greece: Hundreds of migrants rescued in Crete and transferred to Lesbos and Samos

Hundreds of asylum seekers have been rescued in recent days by Greek police off the coast of Crete. Authorities have decided to transfer these migrants to reception centers on the islands of Lesbos and Samos, located in the northern Aegean Sea. The Greek Ministry of Migration maintains that this operation is being carried out in a strictly proportionate manner and emphasizes the temporary nature of these transfers.

Accommodation capacities under pressure

This decision, however, raises concerns among local officials on the two host islands. Authorities in Lesbos and Samos are questioning their actual capacity to absorb these new arrivals. They fear that existing infrastructure will be overwhelmed by this additional influx of people.

Athens maintains that the situation remains under control and that transfers are a temporary solution. However, reception centers risk becoming overcrowded if arrivals continue at this rate. Greece remains one of the main entry points for migrants into the European Union, with regular flows from Turkey and Libya.

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