Greece

Greek islands hit by new surge of migrant arrivals

cde.news desk 2 April 2024, 11:15 · 1 min read

epa09187028 One of the two boats with a total of 415 migrants on board, in Lampedusa, Italy, 09 May 2021. The first wooden boat of 20 meters length, with 325 people on board, was intercepted eight miles off Lampedusa and the second one five miles off the coast and escorted by a security forces patrol boat to Favaloro Pier. On board were 90 migrants of different nationalities, 83 men, 6 women and a newborn baby. EPA-EFE/ANSA

Greece’s conservative government promised on Monday to offer extra financial aid and more staff to help the island of Crete and its tiny neighbour Gavdos handle a steep rise in arrivals of migrants trying to cross to Europe from Libya.

In recent months, the islands of Crete and Gavdos, the southern point of Greece and Europe, have seen an unprecedented surge in migrant flows mostly from Egypt, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Since January, more than 1,180 migrants have arrived on both islands, up from 686 for full-year 2023, Greek coast guard data showed. Neither Gavdos nor Crete have migrant reception facilities.

“Crete will not be left alone and even more so Gavdos, which is a very small island with few permanent residents,” Migration Minister Dimitris Kairidis said after visiting both places.

“We are here to help the local community. The resources and the means are there.”

via Reuters

Filed under Greece

Greek islands hit by new surge of migrant arrivals

More from Greece

Mediterranean tourism shifts beyond peak summer as visitors avoid heat and crowds

Turkey raises alarm over Greece’s military presence on Aegean islands

West Nile virus cases rise across Europe as Greece reports surge and Germany confirms first infection