The situation in Crete is now uncontrollable with irregular migrants from Libya, the vast majority of whom are young men, disembarking illegally on the island, with successive boats. More than 1,200 migrants arrived in Crete in the last few hours alone, having sounded the alarm about a new migration "bomb" threatening Greece.
HDN Newsroom
The situation in Crete is getting out of control with the successive ships of migrants arriving on the island. The accommodation areas are now suffocating and the residents - but also the authorities of the island - are in despair.
Indicative of the situation is the fact that almost half of the 840 who arrived on the island within a few hours on Sunday, did not have space to be accommodated.
As reported by the neakriti.gr, 442 illegal immigrants boarded buses from Agia Galini to Chania, in order to be accommodated in a facility in Agia.
However, shortly before they reached their destination, and specifically at the height of the Cross, an order was given to return to Rethymno.
Information indicates that the place that hosts the immigrants in Agia cannot "lift" all 442 as hundreds of other immigrants are already hosted there, which led to this decision.
Eventually, hundreds of people were transferred to the commercial port of Rethymno following a decision by the port authorities due to the lack of a suitable accommodation area.
Despite the high temperatures and the absence of infrastructure, the migrants will remain there temporarily, until further notice, with the decision-makers providing them with the essentials.
Since the beginning of the year, 8,500 migrants have arrived in Crete, according to estimates, while more than 1,200 have arrived in Chania and Rethymno within a few hours.
The routes of traffickers from Libya to Gavdos and Crete continue, as today the Coast Guard was called to rescue another 230 illegal migrants.
The migrants were spotted by a Frontex ship in two boats in the sea area south of Gavdos.
As announced by the Coast Guard, the rescued illegal immigrants are transferred to the port of Paleochora.
Video shows dozens of migrants arriving by boat illegally at a Cretan beach:
Gerapetritis - Haftar meeting on the migration issue
Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and Marshal Haftar discussed issues related to migration, maritime zones, as well as bilateral cooperation between Greece and Libya.
"I had the opportunity today to meet in Benghazi with Marshal Haftar, as well as with members of his family in their institutional capacity. I had the opportunity to discuss issues related to migration, maritime zones, as well as our bilateral cooperation," Gerapetritis said in statements to ERT and continued:
"With Libya we are connected by common historical traditions and roots. We are also united by our commitment to International Law, as well as the issue of a Mediterranean of peace and prosperity for peoples.
In this context, we will continue our undisturbed relationship and we hope that in the near future we will have tangible results for the progress of our relations."
