Refugee arrivals in Greece 'accelerated' in August: UN
Migrants arrivals in Greece picked up pace in August, the UN refugee agency said yesterday, warning that the increase was straining conditions in overcrowded island camps.
"The UN refugee agency is concerned by the deteriorating situation on Greece's eastern Aegean islands," the UNHCR said in a statement, calling for additional resources.
"The number of new arrivals, which accelerated in August, is putting pressure on overcrowded reception facilities and hampering efforts to improve conditions," it said.
The islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos and Leros have received the largest number of arrivals, mostly from Syria and Iraq, including many children.
There were over 3,600 arrivals via the Aegean in August compared with about 2,200 in July.
Greece is housing around 60,000 refugees and migrants, mainly from Syria and Afghanistan, in camps around the country.
Many have become desperate to be allowed to continue their journey after several EU states shut down their borders last year, while others fear they will be deported to Turkey.
With the rate of arrivals now outpacing the speed at which authorities allow asylum claimants to move to the Greek mainland, there is an increased threat of violence, self-harm and sexual assault, the UN agency said.
The EU and Turkey last year sealed an agreement which has helped to stem the flow of hundreds of thousands of migrants into Greece.
But Ankara has threatened to rescind the deal at times when tensions have flared with Brussels over human rights concerns.
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