76% rise in refugee arrivals after failed Turkish coup

Eastern Aegean islands host over 10,000 currently

Refugee flows to the eastern Aegean in Greece have increased by 76% after the failed coup attempt in Turkey in mid-July. Currently there are over 10,000 refugees and migrants on the Greek islands of the eastern Aegean, raising concerns that these numbers could explode in light of the crumbling deal between the EU and Turkey. Nearly 3,000 refugees and migrants are on the island of Chios, with 35 new arrivals registered by authorities. Lesvos hosts just over 4,000 with 34 people recently arriving, while Samos has 1,300. Leros and Kos have 673 and 927, respectively. Meanwhile, the Greek government is considering relocating migrants and refugees, whose asylum applications are being processed in the second stage, to mainland Greece to alleviate the pressures on the islands.