The constant influx of refugees and migrants by boat to the shores of Greece's eastern Aegean islands from Turkey continues at an alarming rate this week, with close to 700 people arriving on Lesbos, Chios, and Samos in the past 48 hours.
Greece is set to open two new "transit camps" on the mainland to speed up transfers of migrants and refugees from its islands. The initiative is an attempt to reduce overcrowding in the camps on Lesbos, Chios and Samos.
The EU-Turkey deal may have reduced the number of people arriving through the Aegean Sea, however conditions for refugees on the Greek islands are going from bad to worse. The camp in Moria is overflowing with refugees.
This year, so far, has seen a huge influx of refugees arriving in Lesbos. Conditions in the Moria camp are steadily becoming worse and refugees are often left to their own devices.
Germany has also called on Turkey to accept the repatriations as part of a 2016 agreement between Ankara and the EU. A recent upswell in illegal crossings has led to rapidly deteriorating conditions in Greek camps.
Following a dramatic rise in the number of migrant arrivals on Lesbos in recent weeks, the Greek government this week moved 1,500 asylum seekers to mainland Greece. On Wednesday, scuffles broke out at the overcrowded Moria reception camp after 300 unaccompanied minors demanded to also be taken to the mainland. But many transferred migrants say the new camps are worse than Moria.
Greece has begun moving hundreds of asylum seekers from an overcrowded camp on the island of Lesbos to the mainland. A dramatic rise in the number of arrivals in recent weeks has brought the facility to the brink of collapse and forced the government to take action.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) says migrants in Greece are in urgent need of support. The organization says with the arrival of winter, the conditions in the camps will deteriorate and migrants' lives will be at risk.
The Catholic Community of Sant'Egidio in Rome is promoting an initiative thanks to which 150 volunteers, together with a group of cultural mediators, will take turns to spend the summer with refugees on the Greek islands of Lesvos and Samos. The initiative runs through August 31.
Police on the Greek island of Lesvos arrested 13 asylum seekers after violent clashes at the Moria refugee camp following a surge in arrivals at the overcrowded facility.
A group of lawyers providing legal assistance to asylum seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos has been awarded this year's peace prize by the international Catholic organization, Pax Christi. Most of the lawyers are volunteers trying to help thousands of people who have nowhere else to turn.
At least seven people including two small children have been reported dead after a boat carrying migrants sank in the Aegean Sea. 57 others were rescued, the Greek coast guard said.