The European Commission on Friday announced 3.5 million euros in emergency funding for Greece to cover the running costs for human resources in the First Reception Centres that will be set up on the Greek islands of Kos, Lesvos, Samos, Chios and Leros.

The money comes from the Internal Security Fund (ISF) and should strengthen Greece’s capacity to effectively manage the unprecedented migratory flows into the country by ensuring an adequate functioning of the identification, registration and reception of third country nationals.

“This emergency funding will be used to significantly increase the number of specialist staff, which must help to reduce the time for registration procedures,” a Commission announcement said.