PATRAS, Greece - The number of migrants trying to enter the
EU by crossing the Mediterranean Sea on boats has surged with more than 30,000
people reaching the Greek islands already this year.
Most refugees have fled war-torn areas such as Afghanistan,
Syria, and Iraq. Migrants use Greece as a transit point, and many continue
their treacherous journey towards Germany and Scandinavian countries.
Those intercepted by Greek authorities are usually locked up
in one of seven designated detention centres for migrants. Greece's debt crisis has hammered the nation's finances, and no funds have been allocated to tackle these immigration issues.
With many migrants also trying to enter Greece on land, immigration
officials are now seeking abandoned hotels and state buildings to house the
asylum seekers.
On the streets there is fear and trepidation of far-right
Golden Dawn party members known for their attacks on migrants.
Applying for asylum in Greece buys refugees time to prepare
for journeys to other EU countries. Only a few hundred applications are
accepted each week. Many migrants wait all night at government offices, only to
be sent
away by police in the morning.
away by police in the morning.
Source: Al Jazeera
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