Migrant flows rising in Aegean islands

11,000 refugees and migrants currently in Lesvos and Chios

The numbers of refugees and migrants landing on the Greek islands in the eastern Aegean Sea are on the rise. 167 migrants and refugees arrived on the island of Chios in just one day, while a total of 397 have landed there since last Friday. This brings the aggregate number to 4,047, double the 2,000 capacity of the organised reception centres. Samos also received 89 people over the past 24 hours. According to the data released by police of the northern Aegean region, there are currently just under 11,000 migrants and refugees trapped on the Greek islands of Chios and Lesvos. Greece has been under immense pressure by other EU member states to act more efficiently to curb the influx of migrants and refugees into the EU, with Athens responding to the criticisms by saying Greece had yet to receive the promised 4,000 EU officials to aid in the process of registration and readmission back to Turkey, in accordance to the EU-Turkish agreement.