Refugee violence is a daily occurence on the Aegean island of Lesbos as thousands crammed in squalid conditions are losing their pateince while waiting for their papers to come through. An estimated 17,000 refugees are currently living in squalid conditions without basic amenities required for proper hygiene.

The Greek caretaker government’s Alternate Migration Policy Minister Yiannis Mouzalas visited the island and announced new measures to tackle the humanitarian disaster on the island to help “relieve the island and lessen the difficulties for locals and refugees.”

These measures, effective starting on Monday, are:

1. Two additional daily ferry routes from Lesvos to Piraeus to be added to the regular routes. The extra ships – “Terra Jet” and “Pegasus – will start routes, whereas “Blue Star Patmos” will also be on standby to help in the case of emergency situations. The car ferry “Eleftherios Venizelos” will be permanently stationed in the port of Mytilene and will be used by refugees who have been identified. When 2,500 people are onboard, the ship will travel to Athens and return to the island.

2. The identification process will be accelerated. Police and Coast Guard officers have already sent 60 officers while specialized equipment is expected to arrive on Monday.

3. The army will contribute by baking 1,500 loafs of bread per day, while its personnel and facilities will be used to create a new reception facility in the old military camp in northeastern Lesvos

4. A new identification center will be created north of the city at the old Kourtzi military camp.

Meanwhile, new throngs of refugees are arriving on the island daily, exacerbating the problem.