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| U.N., Warning of Migrant Crisis in Greece, Urges Europe to Act | U.N., Warning of Migrant Crisis in Greece, Urges Europe to Act |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| GENEVA — The United Nations warned on Friday that Greece and its Balkan neighbors were being overwhelmed by the flood of migrants arriving from Syria and other areas of conflict, and it urged European countries to step forward with aid to avert a looming humanitarian crisis. | |
| With Greece’s economy in crisis and negotiations over a bailout seemingly headed toward the final stage, the United Nations refugee agency said Europe had a responsibility to help the nation deal with the surge in migrants trying to reach safety. More than 77,100 people have reached Greece by sea since the start of the year, 60 percent of them from Syria, and 1,000 are arriving daily, the agency said. | With Greece’s economy in crisis and negotiations over a bailout seemingly headed toward the final stage, the United Nations refugee agency said Europe had a responsibility to help the nation deal with the surge in migrants trying to reach safety. More than 77,100 people have reached Greece by sea since the start of the year, 60 percent of them from Syria, and 1,000 are arriving daily, the agency said. |
| The influx is creating “an unprecedented refugee emergency” at a time when Greece is financially unable to cope, William Spindler, a spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, told reporters in Geneva. | The influx is creating “an unprecedented refugee emergency” at a time when Greece is financially unable to cope, William Spindler, a spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, told reporters in Geneva. |
| “We would expect the E.U. to activate its emergency response because Greece is part of the European Union,” he said. “Greece urgently needs help, and we expect Europe to step forward.” | “We would expect the E.U. to activate its emergency response because Greece is part of the European Union,” he said. “Greece urgently needs help, and we expect Europe to step forward.” |
| European leaders who are facing mounting resistance to immigration reluctantly agreed last month to take in 40,000 migrants and asylum seekers, although a plan sought by Greece and Italy for mandatory quotas across the European Union was abandoned. The refugee agency welcomed that development, but described it as a “modest” first step. The agency emphasized on Friday that “as needs continue to grow, these measures must be expanded.” | European leaders who are facing mounting resistance to immigration reluctantly agreed last month to take in 40,000 migrants and asylum seekers, although a plan sought by Greece and Italy for mandatory quotas across the European Union was abandoned. The refugee agency welcomed that development, but described it as a “modest” first step. The agency emphasized on Friday that “as needs continue to grow, these measures must be expanded.” |
| Despite the economic crisis, communities on the Greek islands, particularly Lesbos, Samos and Chios, have used their own resources to assist the migrants, Mr. Spindler said. Islanders have bought and distributed bread, provided clothes, and donated milk powder for infants. Local doctors have volunteered to treat migrants who are ill, exhausted and, in some cases, wounded from conflicts back home. | Despite the economic crisis, communities on the Greek islands, particularly Lesbos, Samos and Chios, have used their own resources to assist the migrants, Mr. Spindler said. Islanders have bought and distributed bread, provided clothes, and donated milk powder for infants. Local doctors have volunteered to treat migrants who are ill, exhausted and, in some cases, wounded from conflicts back home. |
| The scale of the arrivals, however, has far outstripped the capacity of local authorities, and thousands of migrants are now camped in conditions that are “deplorable,” Mr. Spindler said. | The scale of the arrivals, however, has far outstripped the capacity of local authorities, and thousands of migrants are now camped in conditions that are “deplorable,” Mr. Spindler said. |
| Greece has been the arrival point for roughly half the 155,000 people who have reached Europe this year, according to the International Organization for Migration. | Greece has been the arrival point for roughly half the 155,000 people who have reached Europe this year, according to the International Organization for Migration. |
| Although most of the 1,914 reported deaths have occurred along the Mediterranean route from North Africa, the Aegean Sea is not without peril. The Greek Coast Guard reported that a boat that left Turkey with up to 40 migrants on Tuesday had capsized. Though 19 people were rescued, the remainder were feared to have died. | Although most of the 1,914 reported deaths have occurred along the Mediterranean route from North Africa, the Aegean Sea is not without peril. The Greek Coast Guard reported that a boat that left Turkey with up to 40 migrants on Tuesday had capsized. Though 19 people were rescued, the remainder were feared to have died. |
| The pressure has spread throughout the region as migrants and asylum seekers try to make their way to Europe through Macedonia, Serbia and other western Balkan countries, the refugee agency said. About 45,000 people have sought asylum in those countries so far this year, nine times the number over the same period in 2014. | The pressure has spread throughout the region as migrants and asylum seekers try to make their way to Europe through Macedonia, Serbia and other western Balkan countries, the refugee agency said. About 45,000 people have sought asylum in those countries so far this year, nine times the number over the same period in 2014. |
| “The tightening of borders and the building of walls is not the solution,” Mr. Spindler said. | “The tightening of borders and the building of walls is not the solution,” Mr. Spindler said. |