Greek refugee hotspots nearing full capacity

Aegean islands already overcrowded

Refugee and migrant hotspots are rapidly reaching their full capacity, according to Greek authorities. The official data show that the organised reception centres throughout Greece can hold up to 60,223 people, with the current refugees hosted estimated at a total of 57,115. The hotspots on the Aegean islands of Lesvos, Kos, Chios, Leros, Kalymnos and Samos are already overcrowded by nearly 2,000 people, as an aggregate of 9,399 people are crammed into the facilities that are capable of hosting 7,450. A plastic boat with 34 refugees was spotted on the northern shores of the island of Lesvos, while the failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, and the subsequent political turmoil has raised concerns that the number of refugees could rise significantly in the near future. The statements by European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker to Austrian newspaper ‘Kurier’ are indicative of the situation as he said the deal between Turkey and the EU is in danger of falling through, something that would inevitably cause a large rise of refugees entering Europe.