The governor of the Moria migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos has unexpectedly announced his resignation, citing personal reasons. The camp has long been criticized for overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.
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.
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.
A 15-year-old Afghan minor has been killed at the Moria migrant camp on the island of Lesbos during a violent brawl. The UN refugee agency UNHCR has in response called on the Greek government to urgently transfer migrant youths away to safe areas.
Greece's newly-appointed Citizens' Protection Minister, Michalis Chrysochoidis, spent the weekend inspecting the notorious Moria refugee reception and identification center (RIC) on the North East Aegean island of Lesvos. He said the sole purpose of his visit was to get himself "more informed".
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.
A delegation from the Vatican met with refugees and migrants at the reception center in Moria, a village on the Greek island of Lesbos. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski promised: "The Catholic Church is ready to host refugees."
Through his papal charities chief, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Pope Francis is donating 100,000 euros to the Greek branch of Caritas to go towards the needs of asylum seekers and refugees on Lesbos as well as for local communities.