[AP]
A total of 578 migrants have arrived on Gavdos, Greece’s southernmost island, aboard nine boats over the past day, according to state broadcaster ERT.
Combined with those already housed at a temporary facility in Agia, near Hania, the number of migrants in the region has risen to 1,139, prompting local authorities to seek immediate transfers to closed facilities on the mainland.
More than 450 people spent Saturday night on Gavdos before the start of their gradual transfer north to Hora Sfakion on Crete’s southern coast, and from there to Agia. The site currently hosts 561 migrants and is reported to be overcrowded.
The union of Coast Guard workers has warned that “conditions are dangerous and unacceptable.” ERT also reported tension and incidents at the facility on Saturday night.
Despite tighter migration policies, flows to Crete have surged by 310% this year. A new directive by Migration Minister Thanos Plevris replaces the term “irregular migration” with “illegal migration” in official documents, allows detention of rejected asylum seekers for up to 24 months, and sets prison terms of two to five years for those remaining illegally in the country.